Using IF-THEN Plans to Support Patients in Raising Safety Concerns About Their Care

Background and study aims Previous research has demonstrated that while patients are often encouraged to raise concerns about the safety of their care, many feel uncertain about how and when to do so. This uncertainty can stem from a lack of confidence, fear of repercussions, or simply not knowing the appropriate channels. This study therefore aims to test whether a brief, theory-based intervention based on implementation intentions (Gollwitzer, 1993) can increase patients' confidence and likelihood of raising safety concerns in healthcare settings.

Implementation intentions, or "if-then" plans, are a well-established method for changing behaviour. They work by helping individuals identify critical situations ("if") and link them to specific responses ("then"), thereby automating helpful behaviours and overcoming barriers. This approach has been shown to be effective in changing a wide range of behaviours, including smoking cessation, reducing alcohol consumption, increasing physical activity, and reducing self-harm.

This study will examine whether forming "if-then" plans can help patients overcome barriers to raising safety concerns. The intervention will be delivered via an online questionnaire to a representative sample of adults in the United Kingdom, with follow-up after 12 months to assess changes in behaviour.

The aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of an implementation intention-based intervention for promoting the raising of safety concerns by patients in healthcare settings.

Aims To test the effectiveness of an implementation intention-based intervention for promoting the raising of safety concerns by patients in healthcare settings.