Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills Theory

This theory focuses on three components that result in behaviour change: information, motivation and behaviour skills. Information relates to the basic knowledge about a medical condition, and is an essential prerequisite for behaviour change but not necessarily sufficient in isolation. A favourable intervention would establish the baseline levels of information, and target information gaps. The second component, motivation, results from personal attitudes towards adherence; perceived social support for the behaviour; and the patients’ subjective norm or perception of how others with the condition might behave. Finally, behavioural skills include factors such as ensuring that the patient has the skills, tools and strategies to perform the behaviour as well as a sense of self-efficacy – the belief that they can achieve the behavior.