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.

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.