Table 1 SDT techniques used during telephone consultations

• Offering clear reasons to become more active?

• Giving information to support decisions on different types of activity?

• Give them a choice, and various options for being more active?

• Encouraging enjoyment of PA by choosing activities that participants like doing.

• Avoid coercion and persuasion? Encourage participant to make their own choices?

(e.g. avoid controlling language, rewards, threats, external evaluation, and deadlines).

• Using neutral language?

(e.g. ‘may’ and ‘could’, and avoid ‘should’ or ‘must’).

• Recognise barriers and conflicting feelings about wanting to be active.

• Encouraging self-monitoring through use of pedometer (and other devices).

• Encouraging setting time aside to include activity, and back up plans if this does not happen.

• Discuss issues around exercising safely

• Individualised goals for ability, and treatments.

• Providing non-judgemental and positive feedback on progress.

• Focusing on participants’ strengths and celebrate even the small goals.

• Give support on how best to achieve goals.

• Working through pros and cons of being physically active during/after treatment for breast cancer.

• Help with ideas to overcome barriers for those during or after treatment.

• Make sure that not achieving goals does not become a negative. Use it to explore any barriers and/or concerns to help improve the following week.

• Value all opinions discussed. Do not judge progress by being negative or positive.

• Acknowledging participants’ feelings and perspectives.

• Giving positive feedback, such as their performance. Feedback must not make them feel they are being ‘tested’.

• Help participants to indicate their reasons to change their activity levels.

• Showing genuine appreciation and concern for participants by devoting time, energy and resources to support them to be physically active.