Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is an approach to behaviour change that uses day to day interactions with people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
MECC enables individuals to engage in conversations underpinned by consistent information and support.
The majority of individuals who have an investigative test following presentation with symptoms of cancer will have contact with the healthcare system. This represents a ‘teachable moment’ whereby the individual may be more receptive to conversations about improving their health through lifestyle changes. Members of the Cancer Prevention Steering Group have worked collaboratively with partners across C&M to embed MECC and capitalise on such teachable moments.
Early Diagnosis Support Workers, funded by CMCA and working across lung and colorectal cancer pathways have received training in Making Every Contact Count and are now engaging people in those diagnostic pathways.
They are supported by localised information about how to make lifestyle changes and the services available should the conversation lead to a desire to make lifestyle change.
The MECC approach has since been expanded to 90 dental practices to enable conversations to take place at an earlier stage.