Abstract

Background

Behavioral interventions typically include multiple behavior change techniques (BCTs). The theory informing the selection of BCTs for an intervention may be stated explicitly or remain unreported, thus impeding the identification of links between theory and behavior change outcomes.

Purpose

This study aimed to identify groups of BCTs commonly occurring together in behavior change interventions and examine whether behavior change theories underlying these groups could be identified.

Methods

The study involved three phases: (a) a factor analysis to identify groups of co-occurring BCTs from 277 behavior change intervention reports; (b) examining expert consensus (n = 25) about links between BCT groups and behavioral theories; (c) a comparison of the expert-linked theories with theories explicitly mentioned by authors of the 277 intervention reports.

Results

Five groups of co-occurring BCTs (range: 3–13 BCTs per group) were identified through factor analysis. Experts agreed on five links (≥80% of experts), comprising three BCT groups and five behavior change theories. Four of the five BCT group–theory links agreed by experts were also stated by study authors in intervention reports using similar groups of BCTs.

Conclusions

It is possible to identify groups of BCTs frequently used together in interventions. Experts made shared inferences about behavior change theory underlying these BCT groups, suggesting that it may be possible to propose a theoretical basis for interventions where authors do not explicitly put forward a theory. These results advance our understanding of theory use in multicomponent interventions and build the evidence base for further understanding theory-based intervention development and evaluation.

中文翻译：

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干预中经常出现的行为改变技术的组合是否反映了潜在的理论？

摘要

背景

行为干预通常包括多种行为改变技术 (BCT)。为干预选择 BCT 的理论可能会明确说明或保持未报告，从而阻碍确定理论与行为改变结果之间的联系。

目的

本研究旨在确定在行为改变干预中通常一起出现的 BCT 组，并检查是否可以确定这些组背后的行为改变理论。

方法

该研究包括三个阶段：(a) 从 277 份行为改变干预报告中确定同时发生的 BCT 组的因素分析；(b) 检查专家共识（n = 25）关于 BCT 群体和行为理论之间的联系；(c) 专家关联理论与 277 份干预报告作者明确提及的理论的比较。

结果

通过因子分析确定了五组同时发生的 BCT（范围：每组 3-13 个 BCT）。专家同意五个环节（≥80% 的专家），包括三个 BCT 小组和五个行为改变理论。研究作者在使用类似 BCT 组的干预报告中也陈述了专家同意的五个 BCT 组-理论联系中的四个。

结论

可以确定在干预中经常一起使用的 BCT 组。专家们对这些 BCT 群体背后的行为改变理论做出了共同的推论，这表明在作者没有明确提出理论的情况下，有可能提出干预的理论基础。这些结果促进了我们对多成分干预中理论使用的理解，并为进一步理解基于理论的干预开发和评估奠定了证据基础。