Cited by 66Health Policy Implementation ScienceBehavioral Health and InterventionsDementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

The development of a theory-based intervention to promote appropriate disclosure of a diagnosis of dementia

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Foy, Robbie, Francis, Jillian J, Johnston, Marie, Eccles, Martin, Lecouturier, Jan, Bamford, Claire, Grimshaw, Jeremy·2007·BMC Health Services Research

Abstract

Background: The development and description of interventions to change professional practice are often limited by the lack of an explicit theoretical and empirical basis. We set out to develop an intervention to promote appropriate disclosure of a diagnosis of dementia based on theoretical and empirical work. Methods: We identified three key disclosure behaviours: finding out what the patient already knows or suspects about their diagnosis; using the actual words 'dementia' or 'Alzheimer's disease' when talking to the patient; and exploring what the diagnosis means to the patient. We conducted a questionnaire survey of older peoples' mental health teams (MHTs) based upon theoretical constructs from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and used the findings to identify factors that predicted mental health professionals' intentions to perform each behaviour. We selected behaviour change techniques likely to alter these factors. Results: The change techniques selected were: persuasive communication to target subjective norm; behavioural modelling and graded tasks to target self-efficacy; persuasive communication to target attitude towards the use of explicit terminology when talking to the patient; and behavioural modelling by MHTs to target perceived behavioural control for finding out what the patient already knows or suspects and exploring what the diagnosis means to the patient. We operationalised these behaviour change techniques using an interactive 'pen and paper' intervention designed to increase intentions to perform the three target behaviours. Conclusion: It is feasible to develop an intervention to change professional behaviour based upon theoretical models, empirical data and evidence based behaviour change techniques. The next step is to evaluate the effect of such an intervention on behavioural intention. We argue that this approach to development and reporting of interventions will contribute to the science of implementation by providing replicable interventions that illuminate the principles and processes underlying change.

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Authors
Foy, R., Francis, J. J., Johnston, M., Eccles, M., Lecouturier, J., Bamford, C., & Grimshaw, J.
Affiliations
  • Newcastle University (GB)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (CA)
Corresponding author
Foy, Robbie
Venue
BMC Health Services Research
Published
2007-12
Volume
7
Issue
1
Pages
207-207
ISSN
1472-6963 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2139722149
Cited by
66
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
FWCI
4.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMC Health Services Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • City Research Online (City University London) (acceptedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
  • Scottish Government
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Keywords
diagnosis disclosure, mental health professionals, behaviour change techniques, theory of planned behavior, social cognitive theory, professional practice change, intervention development, persuasive communication, behavioral modeling, subjective norms, self-efficacy, perceived behavioral control
MeSH terms
Workforce, Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Behavior Therapy, Cognition, Dementia, Emotions, Geriatric Psychiatry, Health Personnel, Humans, Internal-External Control, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Patient Advocacy, Patient Care Team, Professional-Patient Relations, Surveys and Questionnaires, Truth Disclosure, Health Care Surveys, Self Efficacy, Intention

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