The development of a behaviour-change intervention for health professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

BackgroundIn May 2020, a National Health Service (NHS) hospital within the East Midlands requested a needs analysis and development of an intervention to optimise the wellbeing of healthcare professionals (HCPs).MethodUsing the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behaviour( COM-B) model, and the Areas of Worklife model we conducted a needs analysis (two independent surveys assessing wellbeing and behavioural contributors to wellbeing) for the Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR, N=11), Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR, N=19), COPD nurse specialist (N=6), Home Oxygen (N=6), and Research teams (N=10) between June-July 2020. The results were used in conjunction with the taxonomy of Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTv1) to identify the most appropriate strategies for facilitating behaviour change in our intervention. To identify what needed to change for HCPs to engage in each target behaviour, HCPs were asked to complete the COM-B self-evaluation questionnaire.A multidisciplinary team guided intervention delivery (trainee Health Psychologist, N=1, Health Psychologist, N=2, NHS clinical lead, N=1).ResultsIn survey one (N=25), 52% of HCPs reported client-related burnout, 92% reported work-related burnout. In survey two (N=19), HCPs reported poor focus and concentration, insufficient time to attend to self-care/oneself, and an inability to ‘switch off conscious thoughts about work at the end of the working day’ at the end of the day as fundamental contributors to burnout. Due to theorised spill over effects, our behavioural target was enabling HCPs to ‘switch off conscious thoughts about work at the end of the working day’. From the BCW steps and BCTv1, we developed a three-pronged behaviour change intervention involving a relaxation toolkit, an educational webinar, and wellbeing one-to-ones.ConclusionThe BCW, COM-B model, and BCTv1 can be used successfully to develop a workplace intervention to tackle HCPs perceived burnout. We hypothesise our intervention will increase HCPs attentional rest and self-care behaviours, thereby reducing their perceived burnout. Results of a pilot study will be reported soon.