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Table 1 Behavioural change techniques used in the 10-week lifestyle programme

From: The design of a community lifestyle programme to improve the physical and psychological well-being of pregnant women with a BMI of 30 kg/m2or more

Component

Objective

Technique

Psychological variables

Self-efficacy

To increase the women's self-efficacy, so they are more motivated to make healthy changes to their lifestyle

Self-efficacy will be increased by:

-Problem solving activities in 10-week programme (e.g. minor ailments in pregnancy pass-the-parcel)

-Feedback and reinforcement through the group at the 10-week programme

-Personal goal setting during 10-week programme - the setting of a realistic and short-term goal will increase experience of success

Outcome expectations

Develop realistic expectations about the benefits of improving their well-being (physical activity, healthy eating and emotional well-being - relaxation)

When setting their personal goal and in the questionnaires, they will be asked to think about the outcomes of any changes to their behaviour and the impact on their lifestyle.

The barriers and facilitators of goal attainment will be discussed at the goal setting stage (week 1 of 10-week programme) and goal attainment stage (week 10 of 10-week programme)

Baseline questionnaire and goal setting stage (week 1 of 10-week programme) will ask open questions on their expectations and views regarding behaviour change

Feedback

To provide constant feedback to the women throughout the programme to encourage the uptake of healthy behaviours and changes to their lifestyle

Feedback will take the form of changes to their lifestyle as recorded in their diary and involvement in the lifestyle programme (via health care professionals and other women in the group)

Positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement will be received by women when they engage in healthy behaviours or changes to their lifestyle

Positive reinforcement will be offered to the women to increase their self-efficacy, this will occur through the other women in the group, the health care professionals and self-monitoring of their diary entries

Social variables

Social Support

Support and advice will be received from health care professional and other pregnant women with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more

Receive support and advice from Health Care Professionals at the 10-week programme (fitness instructor, Health Psychologist and midwife)

Be offered support from other pregnant women with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more at the 10-week programme

Environmental variables

Access to health care

Women will be provided with information about other programmes and services that may be of relevance to them during their pregnancy and in the post-partum stage

Women will be provided with information about other programmes and services that may be of relevance to them during their pregnancy (e.g. one session in the 10-week programme is dedicated to signposting to other services).

Additional activities (e.g. aquanatal class, supermarket tour and pampering session) will be offered to the women alongside the 10-week programme as taster sessions.