Adaptation of a training program for healthcare practitioners to improve their competency in promoting health behaviour change for Colombia

Non-communicable diseases account for 70% of all deaths worldwide and are primarily attributed to health risk behaviours, including insufficient physical activity, low quality diets, and smoking. Despite widespread awareness of these, 43% of Colombians lead sedentary lifestyles, 28% fail to eat enough fruits and vegetables, and 12% smoke, underscoring the need for interventions aimed at fostering behavioural changes and healthier habits. Healthcare practitioners (HCPs) are a key group of people who can help individuals engage in the behaviour change process; however, most HCPs don’t get training in being able to effectively help their patients.

The main objectives of this project are to: translate and culturally adapt an effective training program (MOTIVATOR), which enhances HCPs skills in empowering behaviour change in their patients, to the Colombian context; and then conduct initial validation testing of the capacity of the Colombian version of the program to improve HCPs motivational communication competency. This will be achieved through developing the necessary content and then conducting proof-of-concept testing in a group of Colombian healthcare practitioners.

The expected outcome of this project is the development of an adapted version of the MOTIVATOR program to instruct HCPs in Colombia in motivational communication and behaviour change counseling techniques.

Faculty Supervisor:

Simon Bacon

Student:

Partner:

Universidad EAFIT

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Concordia University

Program: