Sharing information. This form of support consists in sharing of information about self-management topics like coping with symptoms, diet, exercise, medication, information about what other people are doing, and information about the disease itself, or about any other relevant aspects that could lead to improved self-management, and ultimately better health. This information can be told or distributed in printed materials like a folder or workbook, or via website or DVD.

Examples: Educational session on healthy eating for people with obesity, provision of a printed leaflet on the importance of foot care in diabetes, or a link to a website with information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care.

Self-monitoring training and feedback. Training and encouraging people to recognize, monitor, and record behaviours, symptoms, or clinical data. This process may include regular feedback from a clinician, or a synopsis of information registered in a digital tool to encourage you to continue monitoring your illness and behaviours.

Example: Showing a patient how to record blood sugar levels, physical activity, or pain.

There are different emotional-based behavioural change techniques:

Stress and/or emotional management. This technique consists in helping you to understand the role of stress and emotions and teaching them to use different coping strategies to manage, for example, stress and painful emotions caused by your disease.

Examples: Mindfulness, exercise, stretching, listening to music, deep breathing, or meditation.

Coaching and motivational interviewing. This kind of support helps you to change behaviours by looking what’s important to you, and then offering support, taking into account your needs and preferences. One provider (healthcare professional, peer or lay person) is usually your coach. Motivational interviewing and counselling are included, as well as collaborative conversations with a practitioner, helping with motivation and commitment, minimizing resistance, and resolve ambivalence to change.

Examples: coaching sessions led by a nurse to ease the transition from hospital to home, or rehabilitation programs using coaching methods.

Helping you to think through how you could obtain social support from others to help them achieve behavioural or outcome goals. It could also include the actual provision of social support or discussions about social support networks suited to your preferences, needs, disease burden, or additional life burdens. Part of this support would include linking you to relevant community services to enhance socialization and make the most of support mechanisms in the local community.

Examples: Encouraging family members to become involved in helping you to manage your disease or encouraging you to participate in a local exercise group.