MECC is a person centred and opportunistic approach to health behaviour change that applies appropriate theory informed behaviour change techniques from behavioural science, delivered during every appropriate contact. Although MECC is typically delivered within health and social care, anyone could potentially deliver and receive MECC conversations, within any setting. MECC can be the mechanism that leads to another intervention or applied alone to optimise the potential of routine interactions, through conversations around topics such as smoking, physical activity, healthy diet, or alcohol. The duration of MECC conversations is dependent on the need and opportunity presented.

MECC came about as a result of NICE guidance on Behaviour Change in 2007 which was aimed at supporting clinicians to improve their skills with patients. MECC as a particular approach was initially developed and implemented in Yorkshire and Humber region before national adoption by Public Health England in 2016 with healthcare professionals required to undertake MECC training as part of their professional development. The initiative was supported by a set of guidance for NHS and local government organisations tasked with implementation in context. The implementation in the North East and North Cumbria NHS region (now the NENC Integrated Care Board) is supported by Regional MECC strategy group who work closely with the researchers in this group.

MECC encourages health care professionals and the wider workforce to deliver brief advice to people during routine consultations and contact. The current expectation is that all NHS organisations will commit to MECC and NHS England has included MECC in its Standard Contract Service Conditions. This approach to support behaviour change at scale has been recognised as an asset in helping to deliver on United Kingdom population health ambitions within both the NHS Long Term Plan (National Health Service, 2019), and Public Health England’s Strategy 2020–2025 (Public Health England, 2019), for example, on “Smoke-free society,” “Healthier diets and healthier weight,” and “Personalisation and predictive prevention.”

Although much of the existing MECC research is based within healthcare settings, our research within voluntary and community settings reflects wider implementation of MECC outside of healthcare. Furthermore, MECC is now implemented outside of England, including Ireland, Wales, and Australia.

Despite MECC being widely implemented a recent scoping review found only 14 studies of MECC most of which focussed on staff training and acceptability (Parchment 2021). There is therefore scope for significant advancements in this area.