Tailoring of the Tell‐us Card communication tool for nurses to increase patient participation using Intervention Mapping

Aims and objectives To describe the tailoring of the Tell‐us Card intervention for enhanced patient participation to the Dutch hospital setting using Intervention Mapping as a systematic approach. Background Even though patient participation is essential in any patient‐to‐nurse encounter, care plans often fail to take patients’ preferences into account. The Tell‐us Card intervention seems promising, but needs to be tailored and tested before implementation in a different setting or on large scale. Design Description of the Intervention Mapping framework to systematically tailor the Tell‐us Card intervention to the Dutch hospital setting. Methods Intervention Mapping consists of: (i) identification of the problem through needs assessment and determination of fit, based on patients and nurses interviews and focus group interviews; (ii) developing a logic model of change and matrices, based on literature and interviews; (iii) selection of theory‐based methods and practical applications; (iv) producing programme components and piloting; (v) planning for adoption, implementation and sustainability; and (vi) preparing for programme evaluation. Results Knowledge, attitude, outcome expectations, self‐efficacy and skills were identified as the main determinants influencing the use of the Tell‐us Card. Linking identified determinants and performance objectives with behaviour change techniques from the literature resulted in a well‐defined and tailored intervention and evaluation plan. Conclusions The Tell‐us Card intervention was adapted to fit the Dutch hospital setting and prepared for evaluation. The Medical Research Council framework was followed, and the Intervention Mapping approach was used to prepare a pilot study to confirm feasibility and relevant outcomes. Relevance to clinical practice This article shows how Intervention Mapping is applied within the Medical Research Council framework to adapt the Tell‐us Card intervention, which could serve as a guide for the tailoring of similar interventions.