USING CHANGE STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHIER BEHAVIOURS A 'HOW TO' SEMINAR See also SEMINAR DETAILS OVERVIEW HEALTHY LIVING AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE Today, as never before, healthy living, well being and longevity have become everyday expectations. At the same time, lifestyle-related disease and injury account for an increasing number of health problems. During the past twenty years, the developed world has spent much time, money and effort trying to influence health behaviours. Many different approaches have been tried, but there is little evidence that any approach has been effective in achieving long-term results. A major reason for this lack of success is that practitioners and researchers alike do not fully understand or apply the key principles of effective behaviour change when developing healthy living programs. Through extensive research and experience, Northport Associates has found that lasting change can only be brought about when these principles are used to determine program approaches and interventions. It is especially important for people whose careers involve helping others change unhealthy behaviours, to know how to make these principles work effectively. WHAT WORKS? Northport has a state-of-the-art appreciation of what works and what doesn't. We have identified a framework of strategies and interventions that, when applied appropriately, can stimulate and sustain behaviour change. It is clear that single interventions, such as mass media campaigns or public education programs, cannot create lasting change. “One-shot” programs, even if multi-faceted, most often do not work. Programs must provide people with guidance and community support in their efforts to change. The following examples demonstrate the range of factors that must be considered when promoting healthy behaviours:  analysis of unhealthy behaviours  targeting clusters of related behaviours  assessing readiness to change factors  active participation of the target group  stimulating community influences  planning for potential negative effects  ongoing and comprehensive evaluation Access to the principles of behaviour change and application of effective strategies will significantly increase the success of behaviour change programs over time. SEMINAR PURPOSE The recognition that behaviour change principles are so critical to the success of health behaviour change programs has led Northport to develop a unique learning opportunity that will benefit researchers, practitioners, health educators, and those whom you seek to help. The purpose of this seminar is to enhance the impact of your behaviour change programs through:  a more concise and meaningful understanding of the theory and effective practice of changing health behaviours; and  the identification of specific and relevant actions that can be applied to your programs to increase their effectiveness. The seminar can also help reduce work stressors related to unrealistic expectations of behaviour change outcomes. Through this seminar, Northport helps integrate relevant models, desired outcomes, interactive effects, and long-term maintenance into a meaningful program framework. Then, working together, we use a step-by-step process to translate this framework into immediately useful actions for your programs. AUDIENCE Northport has developed this seminar for program managers, practitioners and researchers whose mandate is to develop and implement programs aimed at influencing health behaviours. The seminar is designed to meet an organization's specific needs through a modular, customized approach. It can be structured as a seminar for new staff and volunteers – or as inservice upgrading or revitalization. FORMAT Your needs dictate the framework for structuring and presenting this seminar. Our aim is to make this important information empowering and directly useful to you. The seminar format is flexible and adaptable. It combines lecturettes, guest speakers, case studies, small group work, and time for individual assessment and reflection. The emphasis and order of presentation methods are customized to meet your needs. CONTENT The seminar is divided into two sections – Foundations and Applications. The information modules and topics within each section can also be customized. Any combination of problem assessment, solution identification, action planning, intervention modification, and program evaluation can be addressed. 1. FOUNDATIONS  What is habitual behaviour?  What is behaviour change?  What can be learned from the theory and practice of behaviour change?  What works and doesn't work? 2. APPLICATIONS  What behaviour change approaches are successful in health-related fields?  How can these approaches be integrated into your programs?  What goals can you set for effective behaviour change in your programs?  What support do you need to implement what you have learned? Examples of specific topics include:  The underlying concepts critical to health interventions.  Risk-taking, attitudes, and motivation.  Social support for healthy decisions.  The benefits and risks of behaviour change.  How to apply relevant interventions and, where appropriate, to practice their application.  Potential modification of existing program implementation and evaluation.  Predicting program impact. RESULTS This seminar will help you:  Gain a realistic understanding of relevant theory and practice of behaviour change.  Understand and assess the strengths and weaknesses of change strategies and their benefits/risks.  Learn to match appropriate strategies and interventions to identified needs, use specific tools, and assess outcomes.  Integrate newly learned strategies and interventions into existing or new programs.  Create a catalogue of behaviour change interventions and techniques to assist in your work. FOLLOW UP The seminar ends with an examination of the role that behaviour change interventions can play in your work and how they can be integrated into the reality of your mandate and daily responsibilities. Effective utilization of these new approaches and techniques may result in changes to your own work goals and activities and those of your colleagues. Feedback, guidance and support will be needed back 'on the job'. To assist this process, guidelines and suggestions for follow-up are provided. Organizational and staff support is critical to success with your new or revised program strategies and approaches. Northport can also help you initiate and/or maintain this role within your organization. SEMINAR DETAILS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Contact us by email, phone, or fax.