Abstract
BACKGROUND. In line with public health policy, healthcare professionals (HCPs)
working in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) are encouraged to deliver
opportunistic health behaviour change interventions during routine consultations. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare delivery has been wide-ranging, but little is known about how the pandemic has affected delivery of health behaviour change interventions. The present study aimed to examine the barriers and enablers to delivering opportunistic behaviour change interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS. Twenty-five qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted in
January 2022 with a range of patient-facing healthcare professionals (including nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, doctors, and midwives) working in the NHS. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.
RESULTS. Two over-arching themes were identified: (1) the healthcare system’s
response to COVID-19 , and (2) maintaining good HCP-patient relationships:
reluctance and responsibility . COVID-19-related barriers included exacerbated
staffing pressures and a perceived inability to use IT equipment to facilitate
conversations about health behaviour change (due to poor internet connectivity or ill-equipped platforms). COVID-19-related enablers included the use of video
consultations enabling less awkward and more honest conversations about health
behaviours.
However, some barriers and enablers remained the same as pre-pandemic, such as issues of role responsibility for discussing health behaviour change with patients, balancing holistic wellbeing advice with maintaining positive patient-HCP relationships, and reluctance to deliver opportunistic behaviour change interventions.
DISCUSSION. The increased use of remote consultations may facilitate the delivery
of opportunistic health behaviour change interventions by healthcare professionals. However, there is also a strong need to improve staffing levels, in order that staff have the psychological and physical capabilities to engage patients in these conversations.
working in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) are encouraged to deliver
opportunistic health behaviour change interventions during routine consultations. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare delivery has been wide-ranging, but little is known about how the pandemic has affected delivery of health behaviour change interventions. The present study aimed to examine the barriers and enablers to delivering opportunistic behaviour change interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS. Twenty-five qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted in
January 2022 with a range of patient-facing healthcare professionals (including nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, doctors, and midwives) working in the NHS. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.
RESULTS. Two over-arching themes were identified: (1) the healthcare system’s
response to COVID-19 , and (2) maintaining good HCP-patient relationships:
reluctance and responsibility . COVID-19-related barriers included exacerbated
staffing pressures and a perceived inability to use IT equipment to facilitate
conversations about health behaviour change (due to poor internet connectivity or ill-equipped platforms). COVID-19-related enablers included the use of video
consultations enabling less awkward and more honest conversations about health
behaviours.
However, some barriers and enablers remained the same as pre-pandemic, such as issues of role responsibility for discussing health behaviour change with patients, balancing holistic wellbeing advice with maintaining positive patient-HCP relationships, and reluctance to deliver opportunistic behaviour change interventions.
DISCUSSION. The increased use of remote consultations may facilitate the delivery
of opportunistic health behaviour change interventions by healthcare professionals. However, there is also a strong need to improve staffing levels, in order that staff have the psychological and physical capabilities to engage patients in these conversations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | British Journal of Health Psychology |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 30 Jan 2023 |
