Make every contact count by opportunistically asking about behavioural risk factors for CHD
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is an all-Wales approach to behaviour change, utilising day-to-day interactions, to support people to make positive changes that improve their physical and mental health and well-being.
Consider encouraging practice staff to acquire MECC skills. For MECC e-learning (to level 1), see here [ESR or other login/ registration required]. For MECC training contacts by health board, see here [intranet].
Brief intervention by staff in regular contact with people who could use some support to make informed choices is promoted by NICE guidance (PH49).
Utilise opportunities to discuss and address smoking (BRF-001), unhealthy diet (BRF-002), physical inactivity (BRF-003) and alcohol misuse (BRF-004).
The importance of reducing behavioural risk factors is reiterated in the Heart conditions delivery plan (WG 2017), which recommends using every opportunity to promote [behavioural risk reduction] and smoking cessation, and advocates interventions within targeted age groups to increase participation in physical activity/ considering a settings approach, as well as reducing alcohol consumption/ binge drinking.