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.

There are different action-based behavioural change techniques:

Enhancing problem-solving skills. This technique consists in teaching on how to analyse factors that influence your behaviour and provide you or help you to develop strategies to reduce or overcome barriers and/or support facilitators (e.g., not eating unhealthy foods when you feel depressed). Strategies include anticipation, self-treatment, resource utilization, and problem management. Ideally, there should be an initial plan, but this is not a requisite.

Example: Identification and attenuation of environmental barriers (e.g., no gym in the neighbourhood when one want to exercise) and facilitators (e.g., someone who keeps you company during exercise) to everyday physical activities.

Goal setting and action planning. This technique consists in encouraging you to set one or more achievable goals based on your needs and preferences. These goals may be behaviours (e.g., a consuming a healthy meal three times a day) or outcomes (e.g., less pain) and can be used as a starting point. The process usually involves the formulation of a detailed action plan, specifying what you would do and at least when and/or where you will do it. It could also include an assessment of your behaviours with your health care provider and a discussion of goals and the writing up of agreed-on action plans, including plans for emergency situations.

Examples of goals: achieving a daily walking distance of 2 km or a weight loss of some kilograms in x months with diet and exercise.