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Make every contact count by opportunistically asking about behavioural risk factors for stroke/ TIA

  • 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 these behavioural risk factors is reiterated in the Stroke delivery plan (WG 2017). Of particular relevance to primary care clinicians, the plan recommends support the MECC approach with staff and key partners and ensuring that smoking cessation support is offered as a first-line intervention for smokers.