Behaviour Change Techniques and Mechanisms of Action: Identification of the Active Ingredients in Communication Partner Training for People With Acquired Brain Injury

What is already known on this subject Training a communication partner can improve the communication skills of people with ABI however; families are dissatisfied with existing education, training and support. Speech and language therapists face barriers in the workplace and there is variability in the range of evidence-based programmes for training communication partners. What this study adds to existing knowledge Through exploration of three existing evidence-based communication partner training programmes, this study identifies the active components required to deliver training to individuals with ABI and their communication partners. Mechanisms of change and behaviour change techniques are identified for each of the three programmes, highlighting areas of commonality between the three programmes. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this study? Training communication partners is a complex and multicomponential intervention. Communication partners are anticipated to improve their communication behaviours via capabilities, skills and regulation, through training that focuses on information provision, instruction, rehearsal, and feedback. This research gives therapists an understanding of what is important when training communication partners and provides insight to researchers to refine and adapt existing training programmes.