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Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Open Access 11-07-2016 | Original Article

From Theory-Inspired to Theory-Based Interventions: A Protocol for Developing and Testing a Methodology for Linking Behaviour Change Techniques to Theoretical Mechanisms of Action

Authors: Susan Michie, PhD, Rachel N. Carey, PhD, Marie Johnston, PhD, Alexander J. Rothman, PhD, Marijn de Bruin, PhD, Michael P. Kelly, PhD, Lauren E. Connell, PhD

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine

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Abstract

Background

Understanding links between behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and mechanisms of action (the processes through which they affect behaviour) helps inform the systematic development of behaviour change interventions.

Purpose

This research aims to develop and test a methodology for linking BCTs to their mechanisms of action.

Methods

Study 1 (published explicit links): Hypothesised links between 93 BCTs (from the 93-item BCT taxonomy, BCTTv1) and mechanisms of action will be identified from published interventions and their frequency, explicitness and precision documented. Study 2 (expert-agreed explicit links): Behaviour change experts will identify links between 61 BCTs and 26 mechanisms of action in a formal consensus study. Study 3 (integrated matrix of explicit links): Agreement between studies 1 and 2 will be evaluated and a new group of experts will discuss discrepancies. An integrated matrix of BCT-mechanism of action links, annotated to indicate strength of evidence, will be generated. Study 4 (published implicit links): To determine whether groups of co-occurring BCTs can be linked to theories, we will identify groups of BCTs that are used together from the study 1 literature. A consensus exercise will be used to rate strength of links between groups of BCT and theories.

Conclusions

A formal methodology for linking BCTs to their hypothesised mechanisms of action can contribute to the development and evaluation of behaviour change interventions. This research is a step towards developing a behaviour change ‘ontology’, specifying relations between BCTs, mechanisms of action, modes of delivery, populations, settings and types of behaviour.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
From Theory-Inspired to Theory-Based Interventions: A Protocol for Developing and Testing a Methodology for Linking Behaviour Change Techniques to Theoretical Mechanisms of Action
Authors
Susan Michie, PhD
Rachel N. Carey, PhD
Marie Johnston, PhD
Alexander J. Rothman, PhD
Marijn de Bruin, PhD
Michael P. Kelly, PhD
Lauren E. Connell, PhD
Publication date
11-07-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9816-6