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

Susan Michie; Rachel N. Carey; Marie Johnston; Alexander J. Rothman; Marijn De Bruin; Michael P. Kelly; Lauren E. Connell

doi:10.1007/s12160-016-9816-6

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

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

Psychology (Twin Cities)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

203 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	501-512
Number of pages	12
Journal	Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Volume	52
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9816-6
State	Published - May 18 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research is funded by UK Medical Research Council grant number MR/L011115/1. We would like to thank the 105 experts in behaviour change who have committed their time and offered their expertise for study 2 of this research. We are also very grateful to all those who sent us peer-reviewed behaviour change intervention descriptions for study 1. Finally, we would like thank Dr. Emma Beard and Dr. Dan Dediu for their statistical input and to all the researchers, particularly Holly Walton, who have assisted in the coding of papers for study 1.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2017.

Keywords

Behaviour change
Behaviour change techniques
Expert consensus
Mechanism of action
Theory

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Publisher link

10.1007/s12160-016-9816-6

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Michie, S., Carey, R. N., Johnston, M., Rothman, A. J., De Bruin, M., Kelly, M. P., & Connell, L. E. (2018). 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. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 52(6), 501-512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9816-6

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. / Michie, Susan; Carey, Rachel N.; Johnston, Marie et al.
In: Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Vol. 52, No. 6, 18.05.2018, p. 501-512.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Michie, S, Carey, RN, Johnston, M, Rothman, AJ, De Bruin, M, Kelly, MP & Connell, LE 2018, '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', Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 52, no. 6, pp. 501-512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9816-6

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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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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