Developing a Video Intervention That Teaches Action Planning

Behavior change ( e.g., diet, physical activity, etc.) is central to an individual's wellness. Although many people intend to change their behavior, these intentions are often forgotten in the moment. Action plans (APs) are behavioral plans that take the form: "if situation X is encountered, then I will perform behavior Y." APs appear to work by strengthening the mental link between the environmental cue and the target behavior; helping to make the behavior more automatic. A meta-analysis reported a strong effect size on health-related behaviors. Most individuals are not familiar with APs or how to effectively make an action plan. In response to the wellness programs goal of offering easily accessible assistance with behavior change, our multidisciplinary project team sought to develop two short videos and a supporting worksheet to guide the viewer in this behavior change technique. The goal is for these materials to be usable by individuals alone or in consultation with a health coach.