Evaluation of behavioural change skills training in clinical nutrition and dietetics students: a pilot trial of blended learning and face-to-face educational approaches

ISRCTN	ISRCTN71409897
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN71409897
Protocol serial number	LS-E-18-23-Hurley
Sponsor	University College Dublin
Funder	University College Dublin

Submission date: 26/02/2018
Registration date: 16/03/2018
Last edited: 15/03/2018

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
The training of practitioners and undergraduate students of the health professions in communication skills to support lifestyle behavioural change related to chronic disease prevention and management is a national priority for Ireland’s Health Service and higher education institutions. An e-learning training programme in behavioural change skills related to self-management behaviours for chronic musculoskeletal pain (E-SOLAS) has been developed by the interdisciplinary UCD research team and shown to be acceptable to physiotherapists and effective in guiding delivery of a group-based intervention for clients with chronic musculoskeletal pain with high fidelity using a needs supportive communication style underpinned by self-determination theory. The behavioural change skills component of the E-SOLAS training programme has potential for integration into the education programmes of health professional students beyond physiotherapy. The original E-SOLAS training programme was adapted for students of clinical nutrition and dietetics who currently receive four hours face-to-face training in behavioural change skills. The aims of this study are to explore the effects of the E-SOLAS behaviour change skills training programme to prepare students in Human Nutrition and Dietetics to develop knowledge, confidence and skills in needs supportive communication to support behavioural change, as well as any necessary modifications to improve the acceptability and appropriateness of this e-learning training programme for application to UCD students.

Who can participate?
Students registered on the MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme at University College Dublin

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group receives E-SOLAS behaviour change skills training and the usual face-to-face behavioural change skills training. The other group receives the usual face-to-face behavioural change skills training only. On completion of the study each participant is invited to complete a questionnaire and submit an audio-recording of their practice of behaviour change skills for rating by two members of the research team.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants receive training to support their learning of behavioural change skills and provide feedback on the training programme to improve its acceptability and effectiveness for students in health professional programmes. There are no risks involved in participating in this study.

Where is the study run from?
University College Dublin (Ireland)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2018 to June 2018

Who is funding the study?
University College Dublin (Ireland)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Deirdre Hurley
deirdre.hurleyosing@ucd.ie

Contact information

Prof Deirdre Hurley
Scientific

Room A102
Health Sciences Centre
University College Dublin
Belfield
Dublin
D4
Ireland

Phone	+353 (0)17166524
Email	deirdre.hurleyosing@ucd.ie

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Single-centre pilot randomized controlled trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	Evaluation of theory-driven behavioural change skills training in clinical nutrition and dietetics students: a pilot trial comparing blended learning and face-to-face educational approaches
Study objectives	1. Blended learning will have larger effects on participants' knowledge, self-efficacy and skills (competence) in the use of behavioural change skills than face-to-face training only 2. There will be comparable levels of student satisfaction with the education provided
Ethics approval(s)	University College Dublin, Human Research Ethics Committee - Sciences (HREC-LS), 31/01/2018, ref: LS-E-18-23-Hurley
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Education of pre-registration students in clinical nutrition and dietetics in behavioural change skills
Intervention	Consenting participants (i.e. students registered on the MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme) will be randomly allocated to the experimental arm (usual face-to-face behavioural change skills training + E-learning behaviour change skills training; n=10) or the control arm (usual face-to-face behavioural change skills training only; n=10). Following provision of written, informed consent and completion of the baseline questionnaires all participants will be randomized. Concealed randomization will be conducted by the Principal Investigator using a random numbers table. Experimental arm: 4 hours Group-Based Face-to-Face Training + Individual E-learning Training in Behavioural Change Skills Control arm: 4 hours Group-Based Face-to-Face Training in Behavioural Change Skills All participants will receive usual face-to-face training in behavioural change skills and in addition, experimental arm participants will be given access to the E-SOLAS training programme to complete independently over a 4-week period. On completion of the study each participant will be invited to complete the post-training questionnaire and submit an audio-recording of their practice of behaviour change skills for blinded rating by two members of the research team.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Measured at baseline and post-training: 1. Knowledge of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) strategies will be assessed by students narratively describing how they would work to motivate a disengaged client case study that will be coded by a blinded expert rater 2. Confidence (self-efficacy) in the use of the above SDT behavioural change strategies will be assessed using a researcher devised questionnaire (10 items, 7-point Likert Scale) 3. Competence in applying the above SDT behavioural change strategies will be assessed by each student audio-recording a role play with a colleague that will involve each participants use of the SDT strategies to support the 'client' to change their behaviour related to healthy eating, which will be rated by a blinded expert rater
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Satisfaction and acceptability of each educational training programme will be assessed using a researcher devised questionnaire (5-point Likert Scale) post training
Completion date	30/06/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Other
Age group	Adult
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	20
Key inclusion criteria	Students registered on the MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme at University College Dublin
Key exclusion criteria	Students registered on any other programme at University College Dublin
Date of first enrolment	08/02/2018
Date of final enrolment	27/02/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Ireland

Study participating centre

University College Dublin

School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Health Sciences Centre
Belfield
Dublin
D4
Ireland

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	Yes
IPD sharing plan summary	Other
IPD sharing plan	The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes