A four-contact programme
The article describes the intervention arm of a multicentre cluster-randomised trial. The 314 participants concerned were assigned to the group receiving support. This number therefore does not necessarily represent the trial’s total sample size.
The programme was based on motivational interviewing principles. It included an introductory call, a brief counselling session and two reinforcement calls. Tools for use at home also targeted stress management and cravings for sugary drinks.
The aim of this publication was to describe the intervention, its feasibility and its fidelity to the stated principles. It also explored changes in motivation to change and confidence in one’s ability to act.
Encouraging participation, with room to improve delivery
More than 60% of enrolled participants completed all four sessions. This finding suggests that remote support may be feasible in this workplace setting. On its own, however, it tells us nothing about any dietary changes achieved.
Those delivering the support reached a basic level of competence on two of the four motivational interviewing criteria assessed. Fidelity of implementation therefore remains something to examine, rather than a consistently achieved standard.
Motivation and consumption are not interchangeable
Exploratory analyses suggest improvements in motivation and self-efficacy over time. The use of brief mindfulness practices was also associated with an immediate reduction in stress and cravings. This association does not demonstrate that the practices caused those reductions.
These observations concern possible mechanisms of change, not evidence of change itself. The abstract provides neither comparative results on sugary drink consumption nor evidence of metabolic benefit. The authors state that the trial results are needed to determine the intervention’s behavioural effectiveness.
Limitations to keep in mind
Only the PubMed abstract was consulted, not the full text. The follow-up duration and comparator group results are not specified in this excerpt. Findings on motivation, stress and cravings are exploratory. Their generalisability beyond healthcare professionals remains uncertain. Funding and conflicts of interest were not checked.
What we can take away
This work describes support that is feasible for some participants. It does not yet establish that it reduces sugary drink consumption.
Sources and provenance
- Brief Motivational Workplace Intervention to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Health Care Workers: Intervention Description, Feasibility, Fidelity, and Exploratory Outcomes From a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.
Source date: 2026-10-27.
Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Multicenter Study · Résumé PubMed uniquement, texte intégral non consulté