FEATURE STORY / BEHAVIOUR CHANGE WITH BRIEF ACTION PLANNING
BRIEF ACTION PLANNING
BAP is a self-management support tool to help patients set goals and overcome barriers to their health . It can be used with patients who are ready for a change , unsure about it or even resistant to change . It recognizes and builds their own motivation for change and sets them up for success . It is a simple and practical tool which uses a basic checklist and takes two to seven minutes to complete depending on your patient ’ s situation .
A recent study examined the use of BAP with patients with spinal cord injuries to promote physical activity , with encouraging results . 1
BAP is based on Motivational Interviewing ( MI ), a more advanced technique . Since MI training is more intensive and using it in the clinic requires a significant time investment , it has been adapted for quick use in primary care settings as BAP .
BAP “ is organized around three core questions and five supporting skills , all of which are grounded in the scientific literature of self-management support , state of change theory , MI and theoretical communication and psychotherapy research .” 2
20 SPRING 2016