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.
6 affiliations
- 1Center for Health and Community, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, 675 18th St, San Francisco, CA, 94107, United States, 1 4158857733.
- 2Philip R Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
- 3Sutter Health Research Institute, Emeryville, CA, United States.
- 4Department of Clinical Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, United States.
- 5Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.
- 6Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Osher Center for Integrative Health, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
Abstract
Background
Metabolic disease, including type 2 diabetes, is a major public health concern. Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is a critical target for disease prevention and lifestyle modification. Workplace interventions offer a promising opportunity to address barriers to behavior change while strengthening motivation and self-efficacy.Objective
The authors describe the intervention protocol, fidelity, and feasibility of a theory-informed brief intervention based on motivational interviewing principles to support reductions in SSB consumption among health care workers. The authors also explore changes over time in proposed mechanisms of behavior change.Methods
Participants (N=314) allocated to the intervention arm of a multicenter randomized controlled trial received a 4-dose intervention consisting of an introductory phone call, a brief counseling session, and 2 booster calls, supplemented by at-home tools targeting stress and craving management. We assessed fidelity to motivational interviewing principles (competence scores) and described feasibility via session adherence. Finally, we explored changes over time in motivation for change and perceived self-efficacy.Results
More than 60% of enrolled participants completed all 4 sessions, suggesting feasibility and high retention in the context of a remotely delivered workplace intervention. Health coaches achieved basic levels of proficiency in 2 of 4 competency scores: technical (mean 3.23, SD 0.48) and complex reflections (mean 41.91%, SD 15.17%). Preliminary exploratory findings indicate improvements in motivation for change and self-efficacy over time. Finally, we found that the use of brief mindfulness practices were associated with acute reductions in stress and cravings.Conclusions
This theory-grounded brief motivational intervention may offer a cost-effective and accessible approach for employers to support behavior change related to SSB consumption. Findings from the fully powered randomized controlled trial are needed to determine if the brief intervention can effectively change behavior. This paper establishes the intervention and its framework to inform future implementation.
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BibTeX
@article{fornellvillalobos2026brief,
title = {{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.}},
author = {Isabella Fornell-Villalobos and Laurie M Jacobs and Juliana Van Cleve and Kathleen J Antonio and Amanda Pickett and Melody Pezeshkian and Tarini Mudunuri and Ashley E Mason and Jamey M Schmidt and Elissa S Epel and Laura Schmidt and Rachel M Radin},
journal = {JMIR formative research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2196/96240},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42954121},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - 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.
AU - Isabella Fornell-Villalobos
AU - Laurie M Jacobs
AU - Juliana Van Cleve
AU - Kathleen J Antonio
AU - Amanda Pickett
AU - Melody Pezeshkian
AU - Tarini Mudunuri
AU - Ashley E Mason
AU - Jamey M Schmidt
AU - Elissa S Epel
AU - Laura Schmidt
AU - Rachel M Radin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - JMIR formative research
DO - 10.2196/96240
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42954121
AB - Background Metabolic disease, including type 2 diabetes, is a major public health concern. Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is a critical target for disease prevention and lifestyle modification. Workplace interventions offer a promising opportunity to address barriers to behavior change while strengthening motivation and self-efficacy.Objective The authors describe the intervention protocol, fidelity, and feasibility of a theory-informed brief intervention based on motivational interviewing principles to support reductions in SSB consumption among health care workers. The authors also explore changes over time in proposed mechanisms of behavior change.Methods Participants (N=314) allocated to the intervention arm of a multicenter randomized controlled trial received a 4-dose intervention consisting of an introductory phone call, a brief counseling session, and 2 booster calls, supplemented by at-home tools targeting stress and craving management. We assessed fidelity to motivational interviewing principles (competence scores) and described feasibility via session adherence. Finally, we explored changes over time in motivation for change and perceived self-efficacy.Results More than 60% of enrolled participants completed all 4 sessions, suggesting feasibility and high retention in the context of a remotely delivered workplace intervention. Health coaches achieved basic levels of proficiency in 2 of 4 competency scores: technical (mean 3.23, SD 0.48) and complex reflections (mean 41.91%, SD 15.17%). Preliminary exploratory findings indicate improvements in motivation for change and self-efficacy over time. Finally, we found that the use of brief mindfulness practices were associated with acute reductions in stress and cravings.Conclusions This theory-grounded brief motivational intervention may offer a cost-effective and accessible approach for employers to support behavior change related to SSB consumption. Findings from the fully powered randomized controlled trial are needed to determine if the brief intervention can effectively change behavior. This paper establishes the intervention and its framework to inform future implementation.
SN - 2561-326X
ER -