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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

A checklist to improve reporting of group-based behaviour-change interventions

Authors: Aleksandra J. Borek, Charles Abraham, Jane R. Smith, Colin J. Greaves, Mark Tarrant

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Published descriptions of group-based behaviour-change interventions (GB-BCIs) often omit design and delivery features specific to the group setting. This impedes the ability to compare behaviour-change interventions, synthesise evidence on their effectiveness and replicate effective interventions. The aim of this study was to develop a checklist of elements that should be described to ensure adequate reporting of GB-BCIs.

Methods

A range of characteristics needed to replicate GB-BCIs were extracted from the literature and precisely defined. An abbreviated checklist and a coder manual were developed, pilot tested and refined. The final checklist and coder manual were used to identify the presence or absence of specified reporting elements in 30 published descriptions of GB-BCIs by two independent coders. Reliability of coding was assessed.

Results

The checklist comprises 26 essential reporting elements, covering intervention design, intervention content, participant characteristics, and facilitator characteristics. Inter-rater reliability for identification of reporting elements was high (95 % agreement, Mean AC1 = 0.89).

Conclusion

The checklist is a practical tool that can be used, alongside other reporting guidelines, to ensure comprehensive description and to assess reporting quality of GB-BCIs. It can also be helpful for designing group-based health interventions.
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Metadata
Title
A checklist to improve reporting of group-based behaviour-change interventions
Authors
Aleksandra J. Borek
Charles Abraham
Jane R. Smith
Colin J. Greaves
Mark Tarrant
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2300-6

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