Chronic diseases constitute 80% of consultations in GP clinics and 60% of hospital bed stays. By Making Every Contact Count (MECC) healthcare providers can offer brief opportunistic interventions to support patients to change their health behaviours to reduce their risk of developing chronic disease and/or help them manage underlying chronic illness(es). Health behaviours such as smoking, exercise and diet are key risk factors for the development of chronic diseases such as COPD, cancer, and diabetes. With Ireland’s aging population, the prevention of chronic disease should be of utmost importance for healthcare providers in improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of chronic illness on the healthcare system. Opportunistic behaviour change interventions are cost-effective and MECC should be at the heart of every routine consultation.
Healthcare professionals do not always deliver brief behaviour interventions, even when they feel they should. The Health Service Executive MECC programme aims to train all healthcare professionals to deliver MECC brief interventions. However, it is not known what determinants (barriers and enablers) exist to healthcare providers ‘Making Every Contact Count’ in routine consultations. Little evidence exists on patient perceptions of receiving these interventions. This research project will focus on understanding healthcare provider perspectives on the determinants of delivering MECC in routine consultations by analysing open-ended data from a national survey of healthcare professionals who have completed MECC training. This research will also examine patient perceptions of receiving brief interventions using a scoping review of existing literature. Findings will be used to enhance MECC delivery in Ireland.
