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Table 1 Behaviour change techniques that underpin the PhysioDom HDIM intervention in the Netherlands

From: Telemonitoring to improve nutritional status in community-dwelling elderly: design and methods for process and effect evaluation of a non-randomized controlled trial

Intervention activities

Behaviour change techniques

Definition of behaviour change techniques

Telemonitoring and advice

 Telemonitoring of body weight, nutritional status (MNA-SF), appetite (SNAQ), and blood pressure

Self-monitoring of behavioural outcome

“The person is asked to keep a record of specified measures expected to be influenced by the behaviour change, e.g. blood pressure, blood glucose, weight loss, physical fitness” [18]

 Telemonitoring of diet quality (DHD-FFQ) and steps

Self-monitoring of behaviour

“The person is asked to keep a record of specified behaviour/s as a method for changing behaviour” [18]

 Setting goals for number of steps and which items of diet quality to improve

Goal setting (behaviour)

“The person is encouraged to make a behavioural resolution (e.g. take more exercise next week). This is directed towards encouraging people to decide to change or maintain change” [18]

 Television messages about nutrition and physical activity

Belief selection

“Using messages designed to strengthen positive beliefs, weaken negative beliefs, and introduce new beliefs” [19]

Consciousness raising

“Providing information, feedback, or confrontation about the causes, consequences, and alternatives for a problem or a problem behaviour” [19]

Provide information on consequences of behaviour in general

“Information about the relationship between the behaviour and its possible or likely consequences in the general case, usually based on epidemiological data, and not personalised for the individual” [18]

 Letters with results of DHD-FFQ and tailored advice on how to improve diet quality and physical activity

Provide feedback on performance

“This involves providing the participant with data about their own recorded behaviour or commenting on a person’s behavioural performance” [18]

Follow-up nurse

 Personal follow-up of nurse in case of risk of undernutrition

Verbal persuasion/persuasive communication

“Guiding individuals and environmental agents toward the adoption of an idea, attitude, or action by using arguments or other means” [19]

Implementation and training

 Manual for participants and health care professionals. For participants: also including cartoons with resistance exercises

Provide instruction on how to perform the behaviour

“Involves telling the person how to perform a behaviour or preparatory behaviours, either verbally or in written form” [18]

 Preparatory meetings, workshop, and evaluative telephone meetings with health care professionals

Goal setting (behaviour)

“The person is encouraged to make a behavioural resolution (e.g. take more exercise next week). This is directed towards encouraging people to decide to change or maintain change” [18]

Action planning

“Involves detailed planning of what the person will do including, as a minimum, when, in which situation and/or where to act” [18]

Barrier identification/problem solving

“The person is prompted to think about potential barriers and identify ways of overcoming them” [18]

 Training for participants

Guide practice

“Prompting individuals to rehearse and repeat the behavior various times, discuss the experience, and provide feedback” [19]

 Support desk for participants and health care professionals

Technical assistance

“Providing technical means to achieve desired behavior” [19]

  1. MNA-SF Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, SNAQ Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire, DHD FFQ Dutch Healthy Diet Food Frequency Questionnaire