What is the most effective method of delivering ‘Making Every Contact Count’ training? A rapid review

Background and Context
The Making Every Contact Count (MECC) programme encourages healthcare and other staff to have opportunistic brief behaviour change conversations with service users. It uses the day-to-day interactions that healthcare professionals, or those within other organisations, including the not-for-profit sector have with people, to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health, and wellbeing. 

Aim
The aim of this review is to assess which parts of MECC training, or comparable interventions, are most effective and preferred by those who would use MECC in in their work.

Strategy 
The researchers looked for published evidence of providing MECC type training. They included evidence which was available up until June 2024. The final review included 11 studies. 

Outcomes
The 11 studies all focused on healthcare organisations and included health care or public health professionals. Two studies also included local authority trainees.

There was evidence that MECC type training increased the confidence of those getting trained, and that the use of MECC related techniques increased immediately following training. These improvements were still evident up to a year later. Refresher training would also be appreciated, and while face-to-face training was preferred, online training might give staff more flexibility to participate. 

Barriers to attending MECC training and using MECC included a feeling that there was not enough time, and a lack of managerial support. Barriers to using MECC also included a fear of upsetting patients, and a lack of awareness of downstream support services to refer service users to following healthy behaviour conversations. Further research is needed. For example, there was also no evidence about whether improvements in trainee confidence and competence had any impact on service user behaviour change and outcomes.

For more information and to read the full review, click here.