Développement et évaluation d’un programme de formation numérique adaptatif sur le counseling bref en changement de comportement lié à la santé

In industrialized countries such as Canada, chronic noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are the cause of most premature mortality. Unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, have a major impact on the development of these diseases. Nurses can support patients in initiating and sustaining health behavior change through a motivational and collaborative approach called brief behavior change counseling (BBCC). However, studies highlight several barriers to nurses’ implementation of BBCC in hospitals, including lack of skills and unfavorable social norms. This thesis by articles presents the result of a study aiming to (1) develop a theory-based adaptive e-learning program on BBCC for the promotion of smoking cessation, the adoption of healthy eating habits and medication adherence (E_MOTIVA), and then (2) to evaluate its effect with nurses and nursing students in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared with a standardized e-learning program partially based on theory (E_MOTIVB). The E_MOTIVA program was developed following a systematic approach and informed by empirical data and theory, including the Theory of Planned Behavior, Cognitive Load Theory and the concept of engagement. The content of the E_MOTIVA program has been developed in such a way as to target the barriers and theoretical determinants of BBCC implementation in nurses and nursing students (e.g., attitude, subjective norms, knowledge, intention). The adaptation of the E_MOTIVA program was operationalized at different times during learning to optimize cognitive load and engagement in nurses and students. The E_MOTIVA program included three training sessions lasting respectively a maximum of 50, 60 and 20 minutes. It could be completed over the Internet from a smartphone, tablet or computer. We then conducted a two group, single blind, RCT with 102 nurses and students enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program in Canada to evaluate the E_MOTIVA program (experimental group; n = 51) compared to the E_MOTIVB standardized e-learning program partially based on theory (control group; n = 51). The effect of the programs was assessed on: 1) change in intention to implement BBCC for promoting smoking cessation, adoption of healthy eating habits, and medication adherence (H1); 2) changes in the theoretical variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior (H2 to H7); 3) cognitive load (H8 to H10); and 4) experiential and behavioral engagement (H11, H12). Analyzes of covariance indicated no significant difference in the scores of change in intention to provide BBCC between the two study groups. However, the change in intention score was higher in the experimental group (10.22 ± 3.34) than in the control group (9.04 ± 2.80) (p = 0.787). There was also no significant difference between the two groups in the changes in the other variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior. In both groups, scores for intention (H1), attitude (H2), subjective norms (H3), perceived behavioral control (H4), behavioral beliefs (H5) and control beliefs (H7) all improved significantly between baseline and final measures. No significant difference was observed between groups in cognitive load and engagement. This study led to the development of a theory-based adaptive e-learning program (E_MOTIVA) on BBCC for nurses and nursing students. The results suggest that the E_MOTIVA and E_MOTIVB programs had similar positive effects in terms of intention to implement BBCC in nurses and students. Recommendations are made to guide future research towards the distinction between the theory-based approach and the adaptation process and to explore research avenues related to the transformation of the intention to provide BBCC into its actual provision in clinical practice.

Keyphrases: engagement, cardiometabolic risk, brief behavior change counseling, adaptive digital training program, secondary prevention, Theory of Planned Behavior, cognitive load, engagement, knowledge translation, nursing students, nurses