Mapping behavior change techniques to characterize a social cognitive theory informed physical activity intervention for adults at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Behavior change techniques (BCTs) are used to target theoretical mechanisms of action predicted to bring about behavior change. Reporting BCTs and connecting them to mechanisms of action is critical to understanding intervention processes of change. This article identifies the BCTs associated with an exercise intervention for individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes and determines the extent to which these BCTs target associated mechanisms of action. BCTs were mapped onto social cognitive theory (SCT) and the theoretical domains framework (TDF) using published literature identifying links between BCTs and SCT/TDF and expert consensus. Two coders then used the 93-item BCT taxonomy (BCTTv1) to independently code BCTs within the intervention. The BCTs used in the current intervention enabled identification of the theoretical mechanisms of action targeted in the intervention. More than 70% of the intervention content incorporated at least one BCT. More than 50% of the BCTs used targeted SCT constructs and more than 70% of BCTs used targeted at least one of the 14 TDF domains. Five BCTs did not map onto either SCT or TDF. This research provides a systematic method of linking BCTs to mechanisms of action. This process increases the transparency of intervention content and identification of the mechanisms of action targeted in the current intervention. Reporting interventions in this manner will enable the most potent mechanisms of actions associated with long-term behavior change to be identified and utilized in future work. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT02164474. Registered on June 12, 2014.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and accelerometer-determined physical activity following one year of free-living high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training: a randomized trial

“…Counselling was delivered in a one-on-one format at each of the seven supervised sessions (~10 min per session, 70 min total) and via take-home worksheets for the three homebased sessions. A detailed description of the behaviour change techniques used to promote exercise selfmanagement are reported elsewhere [19]. Briefly, task self-efficacy to perform HIIT or MICT was primarily bolstered through: providing instruction on how to perform the behaviour, behavioural practice, and helping participants identify physiological cues associated with the assigned exercise intensity.…”

Development of a Theoretically Informed Web-Based Mind-Body Wellness Intervention for Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis: Formative Study

“…Informing behavioral interventions by theory not only provides a means to increase the efficacy of these interventions, but also allows researchers to standardize reporting of the active ingredients of interventions through BCTs. Current guidelines for reporting behavioral interventions are largely focused on reporting intervention delivery rather than intervention content [ 29 , 30 ]. Consequently, few reports detail active components of existing behavioral interventions and often use different language to describe active components.…”

“…Experts in behavioral medicine have reported a low level of confidence in their ability to replicate effective behavioral interventions, which is likely linked to poor reporting of these interventions [ 19 ]. The current intervention is among a small number of multicomponent behavioral interventions to report on theoretically informed intervention development in a standardized manner [ 30 ]. In addition, this is the first known mind-body intervention tailored to PBC.…”

From laboratory to community: Three examples of moving evidence‐based physical activity into practice in Canada

“…Motivational counselling is used to deliver self-regulatory techniques and to facilitate autonomy and mastery. The program was shown to be efficacious in the "laboratory" (Bourne et al, 2019(Bourne et al, , 2020Jung et al, 2015) and in 2016, Small Steps for Big Changes transitioned from the laboratory to the community via a partnership with the YMCA of Okanagan coupled with referrals from a regional medical laboratory. Transitioning ownership of the program required a strong partnership between the research team and the YMCA staff as well as substantial time (<1 year) and energy (see Bean, Sewell, et al, 2020).…”