Supporting patient adherence to physical activity and exercise: evaluation of a behavior change counseling training program for physiotherapists.

Background:Physiotherapists promote physical activity and exercise, yet patient adherence is often poor. To support patient adherence, behavior change techniques (BCTs) should be applied. These are insufficiently covered in physiotherapy curricula.Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate a behavior change counseling training program for physiotherapists. The specific aims were to investigate: (1) physiotherapists' satisfaction with the training; (2) changes in physiotherapists' knowledge of BCTs and communication techniques immediately after the training and 6 weeks later; and (3) changes in physiotherapists' self-reported use of these techniques 6 weeks after the training.Methods:We conducted a single-group pre-post intervention study. Data of 56 physiotherapists (47 female, mean age 48.0 years) who participated in the training program "BeFo" (German: "Bewegungstherapie-Fortbildungen") were analyzed. Knowledge of BCTs and communication techniques, intention to apply these techniques, action and coping planning were assessed at baseline (t1), after the training (t2), and 6 weeks later (t3) using questionnaires. Participants' satisfaction was evaluated at t2, their use of BCTs and communication techniques at t1 and t3.Results:Fifty-four participants (96.4%) were satisfied with BeFo. One-way repeated-measures ANOVAs and Friedman's ANOVA revealed increased knowledge (Chi2(2) = 28.12, p < .001) and improved action planning (F(2, 98) = 22.65; p < .001) and coping planning (F(2, 100) = 19.28, p < .001) at t2 and t3. Higher use of BCTs and communication techniques at t3 was identified when participants with high baseline values were excluded.Conclusion:BeFo could be successfully implemented for physiotherapists. Our results imply that BeFo is a promising approach to improve physiotherapists' behavior change counseling skills.