Myth busting in behaviour change

Behaviour change can happen at individual, team, organisational, or governmental level.

Change can be implemented by patients (exercising more), clinicians (keeping up to date with national guidelines), teams (monthly reviews of commonly overprescribed medications) all the way up to government level (supporting the provision of free vaccinations to children, e.g., by updating policy).

There is usually more than one way to look at a problem. For example: a problem of not having the correct guidelines and therefore reverting to old prescription methods could be solved with:

• Printing the updated guidelines and displaying them on the wall (environmental restructuring)
• Provision of clinical training to support evidence-based practice (training)
• Recognition for best practice (incentivisation)
• Challenge incorrect practice and referencing correct guidelines (restriction)

Behavioural interventions vary widely in size from large scale government programmes to simple discussions between clinicians.

Behaviour change interventions work better when people are involved. We know that support from the team and sharing of ideas can make behaviour change more likely and achievable.

Behaviours do not occur in isolation. Behaviours happen because of people, acting in a particular way in a particular context at a specific time, with the resources they have at that moment. There are many influences (capability, opportunity, motivation) that cause people to perform a behaviour.

We often fall into this trap when talking about change. Sometimes we do need to provide more training on a subject in order to change behaviour. However, remember that behaviour is not just influenced by our knowledge but by the social context, environment, and own our thoughts, feelings and habits.