The DAFNEplus programme for sustained type 1 diabetes self management: Intervention development using the Behaviour Change Wheel

Aims

Self‐management programmes for type 1 diabetes, such as the UK’s Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE), improve short‐term clinical outcomes but difficulties maintaining behavioural changes attenuate long‐term impact. This study used the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) framework to revise the DAFNE intervention to support sustained behaviour change.

Methods

A four‐step method was based on the BCW intervention development approach: (1) Identifying self‐management behaviours and barriers/enablers to maintain them via stakeholder consultation and evidence synthesis, and mapping barriers/enablers to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation‐Behaviour (COM‐B) model. (2) Specifying behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in the existing DAFNE intervention using the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy (BCTTv1). (3) Identifying additional BCTs to target the barriers/enablers using the BCW and BCTTv1. (4) Parallel stakeholder consultation to generate recommendations for intervention revision. Revised materials were co‐designed by stakeholders (diabetologists, psychologists, specialist nurses and dieticians).

Results

In all, 34 barriers and 5 enablers to sustaining self‐management post‐DAFNE were identified. The existing DAFNE intervention contained 24 BCTs, which partially addressed the enablers. In all, 27 BCTs were added, including ‘Habit formation’, ‘Credible source’ and ‘Conserving mental resources’. In total, 15 stakeholder‐agreed recommendations for content and delivery were incorporated into the final DAFNEplus intervention, comprising three co‐designed components: (1) face‐to‐face group learning course, (2) individual structured follow‐up sessions and (3) technological support, including blood glucose data management.

Conclusions

This method provided a systematic approach to specifying and revising a behaviour change intervention incorporating stakeholder input. The revised DAFNEplus intervention aims to support the maintenance of behavioural changes by targeting barriers and enablers to sustaining self‐management behaviours.