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Background Rates of noncommunicable diseases continue to rise worldwide. Many of these diseases are a result of engaging in risk behaviors. Without lifestyle and behavioral intervention, noncommunicable diseases can worsen and develop into more debilitating diseases. Behavioral interventions are an effective strategy to reduce the burden of disease. Behavior change techniques can be described as the “active ingredients” in behavior change and address the components that need to be altered in order for the target behavior to change. Health professionals, such as pharmacists and nurses, can engage in opportunistic behavior change with their patients, to encourage positive health behaviors. Objective We aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a behavior change workshop targeted at health professionals in Australia, with the goal of increasing knowledge of behavior change techniques and psychological variables. Methods A prospective study design was used to develop and evaluate a 2-hour behavior change workshop targeted at health professionals. The workshop was developed based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior Model and had five core objectives: (1) to detail the role of health professionals in delivering optimal care, (2) to demonstrate opportunities to change behavior, (3) to describe principles of behavior change, (4) to explain behavior change techniques, and (5) to determine the most appropriate behavior change techniques to use and when to use them. A total of 10 workshops were conducted. To evaluate the workshops and identify any potential long-term changes in behavior, we collected pre- and postworkshop data on knowledge and psychological constructs from the attendees. Results A final sample of 41 health professionals comprising general practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists completed the pre- and postworkshop surveys. Following the workshops, there were significant improvements in knowledge of behavior change techniques (t40=–5.27, P<.001), subjective norms (t40=–3.49, P=.001), descriptive norms (t40=–3.65, P<.001), perceived behavioral control (t40=–3.30, P=.002), and intention (t36=–3.32, P=.002); each had a large effect size. There was no significant difference in postworkshop attitude (t40=0.78, P=.44). The participants also found the workshops to be highly acceptable. Conclusions A 2-hour, theoretically informed workshop designed to facilitate the use of behavior change techniques by health professionals was shown to be largely effective. The workshops resulted in increases in knowledge, descriptive and subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention, but not in attitude. The intervention was also shown to be highly acceptable, with the large majority of participants deeming the intervention to be needed, useful, appropriate, and applicable, as well as interesting and worth their time. Future research should examine the lasting impacts of the workshop on health professionals’ practices.

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BACKGROUND Rates of non-communicable diseases continue to rise worldwide. Many of these diseases are a result of engaging in behavioural risk factors. Without lifestyle and behavioural intervention, non-communicable diseases can worsen and develop into more debilitating diseases. Behavioural interventions are an effective strategy to reduce the burden of disease. Behaviour change techniques can be described as the ‘active ingredients’ in behaviour change and address the components that need to be altered in order for the target behaviour to change. Health professionals, such as pharmacists and nurses, can engage in opportunistic behaviour change with their patients, to encourage positive health behaviours. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a behaviour change workshop targeted at health professionals in Australia, with the goal of increasing knowledge of behaviour change techniques and psychological variables. METHODS A prospective study design was used to develop and evaluate a 2-hour behaviour change workshop targeted at health professionals. The workshop was developed based on the COM-B model and had 5 core objectives: To (1) detail the role of health professionals in delivering optimal care; (2) demonstrate opportunities to change behaviour; (3) describe principles of behaviour change; (4) explain behaviour change techniques, and (5) determine the most appropriate behaviour change techniques to use and when. A total of 10 workshops were conducted. To evaluate the workshop and identify any potential long-term changes in behaviour, data on knowledge and psychological constructs were collected from the attendees pre- and post-workshop. RESULTS A final sample of 41 health professionals comprising of general practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists completed the pre and post-workshop survey. Following the workshops there was a significant improvement in knowledge of behavioural change techniques (t(40) = -5.11, P < .001), subjective norms (t(40) = -3.49, P = .001), descriptive norms (t(40) = -3.65, P < .001), perceived behavioural control (t(40) = -3.30, P = .002), and intention (t(36) = -3.32, P = .002). Each having a large effect. There was no significant difference in attitude post workshop (t(40) = .78, P = .44). The workshops were also found to be highly feasible and acceptable. CONCLUSIONS Ultimately, a 2-hour theoretically informed workshop, designed to facilitate the use of behavioural change techniques within health professionals, was shown to be largely effective. The workshops resulted in an increase in knowledge, descriptive norms, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and intention. The intervention was also shown to be highly feasible and acceptable with the large majority of participants deeming the intervention to be needed, useful, appropriate, and applicable, as well as interesting and worth their time. Future research should examine the lasting impacts of the workshop on health professionals’ practice.

BACKGROUND Providing education alone in interventions is insufficient for changing behaviour, particularly in health interventions. The upskilling of health professionals can increase capability and motivation towards eliciting change in clients’ behaviours. To date, dietitians have received limited training in this area and have expressed a need for professional development on behaviour change. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of two 2-hour behaviour change workshops on increasing dietitians’ use of behaviour change techniques in practice. Guided by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour Model (COM-B), we also aim to determine if attendance to these workshops will demonstrate an increase in dietitian’s capability, opportunity, and motivation towards using behaviour change techniques. Lastly, we also aim to determine the acceptability of the training. METHODS A randomised controlled trial will be conducted, with dietitians (N=140) randomised into the intervention or waitlist control conditions. Participants will complete questionnaires at three time points: baseline (T0), post workshop (T1), and follow up (T2). Primary outcomes include changes in the number of behaviour change techniques used and frequency of use. Secondary outcomes include changes in capability, opportunity, motivation, and preparedness over a 3-month period. Acceptability of the workshops will also be assessed postworkshop. A series of two-way repeated measures ANOVAs will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the intervention over 3 months, compared to the waitlist control at baseline. RESULTS Participant recruitment will commence in June/July 2023 and will be staggered over a 12-month period. CONCLUSIONS This protocol outlines the methodology of a two-armed randomised controlled trial assessing the effectiveness and acceptability of two workshops for dietitians in behaviour change. Our results will guide future continuous professional development in behaviour change techniques and could equip health professionals to engaging in opportunistic behaviour change interventions. CLINICALTRIAL ACTRN12623000525684; https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12623000525684.aspx