Supporting Australian dietitians to deliver effective behaviour change interventions: a pre-post training study

Dietitians require robust behaviour change skills to promote dietary modifications to improve client outcomes. However, behaviour change education varies across institutions and placement opportunities. The aim was to develop and evaluate an online intervention to improve Australian dietitians' COM-B factors (capability, opportunity, motivation, and behaviour) for implementing behaviour change techniques.

Australian Accredited Practising Dietitians were recruited via social media, newsletters, and word-of-mouth to complete two online behaviour change workshops. Mixed methods surveys were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.

Seventy-two dietitians completed all study components. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed significant improvements in self-reported capability, opportunity, motivation, and self-reported behaviour (frequency and technique use). Pairwise comparisons revealed sustained improvements at follow-up for all constructs, with approximately two-thirds of dietitians (68%) reporting practice changes. These changes included the integration of specific techniques. Where no changes occurred, dietitians cited opportunity-based barriers or noted they were already using techniques in daily practice.

The intervention was successful at improving dietitians' capability, opportunity, motivation, and self-reported behaviour. However, long-term skill development may require support structures to foster opportunities. Future research should explore professional development models that provide sustained learning and organisational support to embed behaviour change techniques into dietetic practice.