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Background: Previous research has illustrated a drift in the fidelity of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) during the design of the pilot NHS England Low‐Calorie Diet (NHS‐LCD) Programme. This study evaluated a subsequent domain of fidelity, intervention delivery. Two research questions were addressed: (1) To what extent were BCTs delivered with fidelity to providers programme plans? (2) What were the observed barriers and facilitators to delivery? Methods: A mixed‐methods sequential explanatory design was employed. Remote delivery of one‐to‐one and group‐based programmes were observed. A BCT checklist was developed using the BCT Taxonomy v1; BCTs were coded as present, partially delivered, or absent during live sessions. Relational content analysis of field notes identified observed barriers and facilitators to fidelity. Results: Observations of 122 sessions across eight samples and two service providers were completed. Delivery of the complete NHS‐LCD was observed for five samples. Fidelity ranged from 33% to 70% across samples and was higher for group‐based delivery models (64%) compared with one‐to‐one models (46%). Barriers and facilitators included alignment with the programme's target behaviours and outcomes, session content, time availability and management, group‐based remote delivery, and deviation from the session plan. Conclusions: Overall, BCTs were delivered with low‐to‐moderate fidelity. Findings indicate a dilution in fidelity during the delivery of the NHS‐LCD and variation in the fidelity of programmes delivered across England. Staff training could provide opportunities to practice the delivery of BCTs. Programme‐level changes such as structured activities supported by participant materials and with sufficient allocated time, might improve the delivery of BCTs targeting self‐regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are chronic conditions with significant personal, societal, and economic impacts. Expanding on existing trial evidence, the NHS piloted a 52‐week low‐calorie diet programme for T2DM, delivered by private providers using total diet replacement products and behaviour change support. This study aimed to determine the extent to which providers and coaches adhered to the service specification outlined by NHS England. An observational qualitative study was conducted to examine the delivery of both one‐to‐one and group‐based delivery of programme sessions. Observations of 122 sessions across eight programme delivery samples and two service providers were completed. Adherence to the service specification was stronger for those outcomes that were easily measurable, such as weight and blood glucose, while less tangible elements of the specification, such as empowering service users, and person‐centred delivery were less consistently observed. One‐to‐one sessions were more successful in their person‐centred delivery, and the skills of the coaches delivering the sessions had a strong impact on adherence to the specification. Overall, the results show that there was variability by provider and delivery mode in the extent to which sessions of the NHS Low‐Calorie Diet Programme reflected the intended service specification. In subsequent programmes it is recommended that one‐to‐one sessions are used, with accompanying peer support, and that providers improve standardised training and quality assurance to ensure specification adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]