Implementation of Making Every Contact Count (MECC): developing a collaborative strategy to optimise and scale-up MECC
Many chronic illnesses can be prevented if people adopt healthier lifestyle behaviours. The Making Every Contact Count programme aims to train all healthcare professionals to support their patients in making healthier lifestyle choices during routine healthcare contacts.
Following an Applied Partnership Award (APA) from the Health Research Board (HRB), the MECC Programme team and their NUIG partners are undertaking a two year research project, which commenced in September 2020. The Applied Partnership Awards are designed to bring knowledge users and academic researchers together to develop research projects that address a specific need within the Irish health or social care system.
The project – Implementation of Making Every Contact Count (MECC): Developing a collaborative strategy to optimise and scale-up MECC – will begin with a survey of HSE Staff who have completed the e-learning training.
The survey of healthcare professionals, asks:
“What makes it easy or difficult for health services and healthcare professionals to support patients in making healthier lifestyle choices?”
Research findings will support the MECC programme team to further refine how the programme is rolled out across the Irish health service.
All those who have completed the e-learning programme will receive an email invite to participate in the coming weeks.
“This survey of healthcare professionals is really important as it offers us the opportunity to learn from staff and hear their experience of incorporating this approach into practice as part of the routine care offered to patients. The findings will inform and guide plans to support implementation.” Sandra Coughlan – MECC Lead and Head of Training & Programme Design
For further information on the MECC programme, please click here