Effect of online training for Australian dietitians on their capability, opportunity, motivation, and behaviour in using behaviour change techniques

Behaviour change is important for improving population health and wellbeing. Dietitians have an essential role in fostering dietary modification through behaviour change interventions. However, behaviour change science often varies in the depth and breadth of content across universities, with variation in placement opportunities across students. Dietary interventions that are informed by behaviour change theories have potential to be more effective than those without, particularly for nutrition and dietetic practitioners. Dietitians have emphasized that there is a need for ongoing training in behaviour change after university education. Training interventions have shown to be effective for improving health professionals’ confidence, competencies and implementation in behaviour change techniques. A randomised controlled trial was conducted to assess the impact of an online intervention for Australian dietitians. Participants were randomized to either an intervention condition or control condition. Assessments occurred at baseline (T0), Post workshops (T1) and at 3-month follow-up (T2). The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the online intervention on: • The number and frequency of behaviour change techniques used in practice. • Dietitians’ capability, opportunity, motivation towards delivering behaviour change techniques in practice. The intervention included two online workshops (2 hours each) which were facilitated by a postgraduate researcher with experience in health behaviour change. Workshops were conducted in small groups of up to 15 participants. The second workshop had to be completed with within 3 weeks of the first. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour Model (COM-B model) was used to inform the development of the workshops (Michie et al., 2011). The COM-B model outlines three constructs that are important for behaviour or behaviour change to occur; Capability (physical and psychological capability), Opportunity (physical and social opportunity), and Motivation (reflective and automatic motivation).Workshops focused on fostering an understanding of the COM-B model and key behaviour change techniques relevant to nutrition and dietetics practice. This included, goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring, problem solving, social support, reattribution, restructuring the environment, focus on past success, habit formation, behaviour substitution, information on consequences, pros and cons, feedback and commitment. Workshops included opportunities for fostering social support through pair and group discussions. Adherence to the intervention was based upon attendance at the workshop or receival of the workshop recording. Materials & Procedures Recruitment took place via social media and newsletters of Australian nutrition and dietetic organisations, snowballing and word of mouth. Participants who were eligible to take part in the study were invited to complete baseline measures before being randomised to either the intervention condition or control condition. Intervention participants were invited to book in one of each workshop via an online booking system. Participation in the workshops took place online via Microsoft Teams. Recordings of the workshops were available for intervention participants who could not attend on the day. Following workshop 2, participants completed the post-intervention survey (T1) and a follow up survey at 3 months (T2). The control condition complete the same measures at equivalent time points to the intervention condition. All measures were completed online via Qualtrics surveys. Each survey included measures of capability, opportunity, motivation, and behaviour (frequency and number of techniques). Additional items were included at T1 on acceptability and feasibility for the intervention condition. At T2, open text items were included to determine if and what changes participants had made following the online intervention.