Table 1.
SDT techniques used during telephone consultations
| Autonomy: | Use (range 0–14) |
|---|---|
| • Offering clear reasons to become more active? | 10 (71%) |
| • Giving information to support decisions on different types of activity? | 13 (93%) |
| • Give them a choice, and various options for being more active? | 13 (93%) |
| • Encouraging enjoyment of PA by choosing activities that participants like doing. | 12 (86%) |
| • Avoid coercion and persuasion? Encourage participant to make their own choices? (e.g. avoid controlling language, rewards, threats, external evaluation, and deadlines). |
13 (93%) |
| • Using neutral language? (e.g. ‘may’ and ‘could’, and avoid ‘should’ or ‘must’). |
14 (100%) |
| • Recognise barriers and conflicting feelings about wanting to be active. | 12 (86%) |
| • Encouraging self-monitoring through use of pedometer (and other devices). | 13 (93%) |
| • Encouraging setting time aside to include activity, and back up plans if this does not happen. | 11 (78%) |
| Competence: | |
| • Discuss issues around exercising safely | 11 (78%) |
| • Individualised goals for ability, and treatments. | 9 (64%) |
| • Providing non-judgemental and positive feedback on progress. | 14 (100%) |
| • Focusing on participants’ strengths and celebrate even the small goals. | 13 (93%) |
| • Give support on how best to achieve goals. | 9 (64%) |
| • Working through pros and cons of being physically active during/after treatment for breast cancer. | 8 (57%) |
| • Help with ideas to overcome barriers for those during or after treatment. | 6 (43%) |
| • Make sure that not achieving goals does not become a negative. Use it to explore any barriers and/or concerns to help improve the following week. | 8 (57%) |
| Relatedness: | |
| • Value all opinions discussed. Do not judge progress by being negative or positive. | 11 (78%) |
| • Acknowledging participants’ feelings and perspectives. | 13 (93%) |
| • Giving positive feedback, such as their performance. Feedback must not make them feel they are being ‘tested’. | 14 (100%) |
| • Help participants to indicate their reasons to change their activity levels. | 7 (50%) |
| • Showing genuine appreciation and concern for participants by devoting time, energy and resources to support them to be physically active. | 14 (100%) |