Empowering Patients: Behavioural Change and Smoking Cessation

Welcome to Empowering Patients: Behavioural Change and Smoking Cessation, a two-hour learning unit designed to support healthcare professionals in fostering positive lifestyle changes among patients with a history of VTE (Venous Thromboembolism).

This course focuses on the communication strategies that help motivate patients to make beneficial changes, particularly around smoking cessation and behavioural risk reduction. Drawing on real-world clinical insights and psychological research, the unit explores how healthcare professionals can engage with patients in a supportive, non-judgmental, and effective way.

You’ll explore:

• The practical communication tools that can help patients consider and initiate smoking cessation
• Psychological models of change that influence patient behaviour
• The ways in which health professionals can create space for conversations about lifestyle without overwhelming or alienating patients
• Simple techniques for encouraging sustainable changes in activity, habits, and risk factors

This unit includes:

• Helping People Stop Smoking: A video exploring motivational techniques, challenges, and strategies for supporting patients in quitting smoking.
• Encouraging Behavioural Change: A session that examines how clinicians can support patients in making broader lifestyle improvements that may enhance long-term health outcomes.

By the end of this unit, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how small, well-placed communication strategies can make a significant difference in empowering patients to take ownership of their health, reduce risks, and improve their recovery journey following VTE.