Behavior change theory and behavior change technique use in cancer rehabilitation interventions: a secondary analysis.
M Lauren Voss, Rachelle Brick, Lynne S Padgett and 13 others
PMID 39445735WHAT IT FOUND
Only 14% of cancer rehabilitation trials explicitly reported using behavior change theory.
While specific techniques like goal setting and social support appeared in more successful interventions, the total number of techniques used did not predict better functional outcomes.
Key findings
01Explicit reporting of behavior change theory was rare, appearing in only 14% of the included studies.
02The number of behavior change techniques used in an intervention was not related to whether the intervention was considered promising.
03Specific techniques such as goal setting, graded tasks, and social support were identified as having high promise ratios.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Most included studies had moderate to high risk of bias, with 88.9% rated as having 'some concerns'. Behavior change theory was coded dichotomously (yes/no), which may have missed nuanced applications of theoretical frameworks. The analysis could not account for interactions between multiple BCTs, so it is unclear if certain combinations are more effective than others. Findings apply to interventions targeting activity limitations and participation restrictions, but may not generalize to those targeting body structure or function changes.
Declared interests
One author prepared the article as part of their official duties for Veterans Affairs. The authors declared no conflicts of interest with any financial organization.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that adding more behavior change techniques to a therapy session will lead to better functional outcomes. The study found no significant difference in the number of techniques used between successful and unsuccessful interventions.