QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department is working with reduced space, which may lead to delays for those with less urgent concerns. Learn more here.
Starting Saturday, December 14, the entrance to the QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department will change to 1840 Bell Road. Learn more.
The Behaviour Change Counselling Development Program (BCCDP) is evidence based and increases skills for health care providers in behaviour change counselling to support patients to make changes to impact their health. The program is aligned with the chronic disease management and wellness strategy for primary healthcare. There are multiple ways to access this program. The first stream of the program is designed for all IWK/NSH staff. The second stream is CME certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 42 Mainpro+ credits open to physicians, nurse practitioners, medical residents and medical students. There is also a third stream in pilot phase.
The goal of this program is to help providers gain the knowledge, skills and confidence in promoting self-management and promote health behaviour changes. Self-management approaches can support Nova Scotians to work collaboratively with their health care teams to live well and better manage their health.
The program includes self-directed modules, action periods to practice new learning, and live practice workshops as well as resources and tools.
Meet the Physician co-facilitators for the CME accredited stream:
Dr. Darya Kryzskaya is a family physician serving the community of Upper Tantallon. She holds both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery from McGill University. Alongside her clinical practice, Dr. Kryzskaya runs a small procedures clinic and is a faculty member at Dalhousie University. She is also involved with the Medical Council of Canada, contributing to the content development workgroup where she creates and edits examination material for Canadian and international medical graduates.
Dr. Jamie Johnstone is a Halifax-based family physician who practices across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and provides temporary coverage to fellow physicians in both provinces. Dr. Johnston is originally from Cape Breton where he completed his residency in rural family medicine. He is committed to collaborative care, working closely with allied health professionals, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions to deliver adaptive patient care. With an interest in teaching medicine, Dr. Johnstone also maintains faculty affiliations at Dalhousie University and Memorial University.
The CME accredited program’s impact
Based on an evaluation in 2023, physicians and nurse practitioners reported increased competency, knowledge, skill and confidence in behaviour change counselling and this was statistically significant. Nearly all providers have changed their practice and ninety per cent of providers said they would recommend the program to colleagues.
What are providers saying about the program
One physician said: “[I’m] already doing elements of [behaviour change counselling] on a regular basis. This course will allow me to take a much more organized approach and improve what I am already doing.”
Another physician said the skills are already helping both them and their patients: “I have started using the skills taught in the course and am finding it helps me feel more confident as a clinician and I can see the benefits for my patients as well.”
Physicians and nurse practitioners are also approaching care from the patient perspective after taking the course. “I think I will be more centered on approaching things from the patient's perspective, leaning into what is achievable more than anything,” said one physician. “I have a better understanding in how to motivate change – even small change,” said another physician
Other providers emphasized the communication principles they learned from Behaviour Change Counselling. “There are many areas of my practice that will change because of this program. The most universal change that will be applicable in most conversations (not just related to behaviour change) will be the ask, listen, and summarize communication style,” said a nurse practitioner.
How to register
There are 2 streams of the program:
Stream 1 - Nova Scotia Health & IWK Staff for more information click here.
Stream 2 – Physicians, nurse practitioners, medical residents, medical students – CME accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada register here.
