Behaviour change techniques used in lifestyle support of adults with mild intellectual disabilities

Mariël Willems; Johan de Jong; Annelies Overwijk; Thessa I M Hilgenkamp; Cees P van der Schans; Aly Waninge

doi:10.1111/jar.13021

Behaviour change techniques used in lifestyle support of adults with mild intellectual disabilities

J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2022 Nov;35(6):1327-1335. doi: 10.1111/jar.13021. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Authors

Mariël Willems¹, Johan de Jong², Annelies Overwijk^{1

3}, Thessa I M Hilgenkamp^{4

5}, Cees P van der Schans^{1

3

6}, Aly Waninge^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Research Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
² School of Sports Studies, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Health Psychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
⁵ Physical Therapy Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
⁶ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 35734872
DOI: 10.1111/jar.13021

Abstract

Background: Professional caregivers are important in the daily support of lifestyle change for adults with mild intellectual disabilities; however, little is known about which behaviour change techniques (BCTs) are actually used. This study aims to gain insight in their use for lifestyle behaviour change using video observations.

Methods: Professional caregivers (N = 14) were observed in daily work supporting adults with mild intellectual disabilities. Videos were analysed using the Coventry Aberdeen London Refined (CALO-RE-NL) taxonomy and BCTs utilised were coded.

Results: Twenty one out of 40 BCTs were used by professional caregivers. The BCTs 'Information about others' approval', 'Identification as role model', 'Rewards on successful behaviour', 'Review behavioural goals' and 'Instructions on how to perform the behaviour' were most employed.

Conclusion: Professional caregivers used BCTs to support healthier lifestyle behaviour of adults with mild intellectual disabilities. However, most promising of them as defined previous by professionals were rarely used by professional caregivers.

Keywords: behaviour change techniques; lifestyle change; mild intellectual disability; observations; professional caregiver.

MeSH terms

Adult
Behavior Therapy* / methods
Healthy Lifestyle
Humans
Intellectual Disability* / therapy
Life Style*
London