Intervention characteristics | SMD | 95% CI |
Behavioural change techniques: | ||
Prompts/cues | 3.29 | (1.97 to 4.62) |
Definition: Introduce or define environmental or social stimulus to promote or cue the behaviour. Examples: frequent phone calls by a health professional/ post or email reminders | ||
Credible source | 2.08 | (0.95 to 3.22) |
Definition: resent verbal or visual communication from a credible source in favour of or against the behaviour. Examples: Explicit, detailed and salient advice from a health professional to engage in physical activity. | ||
Adding objects to the environment | 1.47 | (0.41 to 2.53) |
Definition: Add objects to the environment in order to facilitate the performance of the behaviour. Examples: Provision of a treadmill, weights, step, or stationary bicycle. | ||
Generalisation of the target behaviour | 1.32 | (0.22 to 2.41) |
Definition: Advice to perform the desired behaviour, which is already performed in a particular situation, in another situation. Examples: Encouragement to engage in an exercise in home settings. | ||
Monitoring of behaviour by others without feedback | 1.02 | (0.05 to 1.98) |
Definition: Observe or record behaviour with the person’s knowledge as part of a behavioural change strategy. Examples: The physiotherapist informs participants that their physical activity levels will be monitored using accelerometers and telemonitoring devices. | ||
Self-monitoring of outcome(s) of behaviour | 0.79 | (0.06 to 1.52) |
Definition: Establish a method for the person to monitor and record the outcome(s) of their behaviour as part of a behavioural change strategy. Examples: Monitoring reduced pain symptoms and dyspnoea as a result of physical activity. | ||
Graded tasks | 0.73 | (0.22 to 1.24) |
Definition: Set easy-to-perform tasks, making them increasingly difficult, but achievable until the behaviour is performed. Examples: Gradual increase in the level of exertion as assessed using the Borg scale. | ||
Behavioural practice/rehearsal | 0.72 | (0.26 to 1.18) |
Definition: Prompt practice or rehearsal of the performance of the behaviour one or more times in a context or at a time when the performance may not be necessary. Examples: Exercise training (individual or in a group). | ||
Action planning | 0.62 | (0.03 to 1.21) |
Definition: prompt, detailed planning of performance of the behaviour (must include at least one of context, frequency, duration and intensity). Examples: plan when, where, how much and at what intensity the participant will perform the exercise. | ||
Goal setting (behaviour) | 0.56 | (0.03 to 1.08) |
Definition: set or agree on a goal defined in terms of the behaviour to be achieved. Examples: Set a goal to complete 30 min of exercise (brisk walking) at the vagarious intensity in future. | ||
Setting: Centre-based interventions | 0.98 | (0.35 to 1.62) |
Mode of delivery: Group-based interventions | 0.89 | (0.29 to 1.50) |
Facilitator: Physiotherapist | 0.84 | (0.03 to 1.65) |
Definitions are from Michie et al.15 Intervention characteristics are described in table 2 and online supplemental material 4. SMD and 95% CI for characteristics that were not suggested to be significantly associated with efficacy are summarised in online supplemental material 4.
SMD, standardised mean difference.