Behavior Change Techniques Used in Digital Behavior Change Interventions to Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption: A Meta-regression

Claire V Garnett, David Crane, Jamie Brown, Eileen F S Kaner, Fiona R Beyer, Colin R Muirhead, Matthew Hickman, Emma Beard, James Redmore, Frank de Vocht, Susan Michie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)
379 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs) appear to reduce alcohol consumption, but greater understanding is needed of their mechanisms of action.

Purpose: To describe the behavior change techniques (BCTs) used in DBCIs and examine whether individual BCTs, the inclusion of more BCTs or more Control Theory congruent BCTs is associated with increased effectiveness.

Methods: Forty-one randomized control trials were extracted from a Cochrane review of alcohol reduction DBCIs and coded for up to 93 BCTs using an established and reliable method. Random effects unadjusted and adjusted meta-regression models were performed to assess associations between BCTs and intervention effectiveness.

Results: Interventions used a mean of 9.1 BCTs (range 1-22), 23 different BCTs were used in four or more trials. Trials that used "Behavior substitution" (-95.112 grams per week [gpw], 95% CI: -162.90, -27.34), "Problem solving" (-45.92 gpw, 95% CI: -90.97, -0.87) and "Credible source" (-32.09 gpw, 95% CI: -60.64, -3.55) were significantly associated with greater alcohol reduction than trials without these BCTs. The "Behavior substitution" result should be treated as preliminary because it was reported in only four trials, three of which were conducted by the same research group. "Feedback" was used in 98% of trials (n = 41); other Control Theory congruent BCTs were used less frequently: for example, "Goal setting" 43% (n = 18) and "Self-monitoring" 29%, (n = 12).

Conclusions: "Behavior substitution," "Problem solving," and "Credible source" were associated with greater alcohol reduction. Many BCTs were used infrequently in DBCIs, including BCTs with evidence of effectiveness in other domains, such as "Self-monitoring" and "Goal setting."

Original languageEnglish
Article numberkax029
Pages (from-to)530-543
Number of pages14
JournalAnnals of Behavioral Medicine
Volume52
Issue number6
Early online date27 Jan 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2018

Keywords

  • Behavior change techniques
  • Alcohol
  • Drinking
  • Digital interventions
  • Meta-regression
  • Systematic review

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