Using behavior change interventions in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation: Perspectives from healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom

This study explores healthcare professionals’ experiences of using behavior change interventions in clinical practice. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eleven healthcare professionals working in a cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation National Health Service Trust in the United Kingdom. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Four overarching themes representing healthcare practitioners’ perceptions of using behavior change interventions were identified: 1) reliance on experiential learning; 2) knowledge transition; 3) existing professional development programs; and 4) barriers and facilitators for continued professional development. The results are discussed in relation to the implications they may have for behavior change training in clinical healthcare practice. Healthcare professionals require bespoke and formalized training to optimize their delivery of behavior change interventions in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Doing so will enhance intervention fidelity and implementation that can potentially ameliorate patient rehabilitation outcomes.