Q2. What are the future works in this paper?
This review highlights the importance of linking intervention efficacy to the underpinning intervention components, and future studies should describe interventions in detail to allow for identification and replication of information, for example publishing intervention protocol papers. Brief nutrition interventions present a simple, adaptable and cost effective strategy to improve dietary behaviours at a population level, and warrant further investigation.
Q3. What are some of the techniques that were found to be effective in the study?
Planning actions in terms of performing a target behaviour, as well as identifying and problem solving to overcome barriers to performing behaviour were also found to be effective behaviour change techniques.
Q4. How many BCTs were used in the intervention arms?
8.1 Behavioural practice/rehearsal 9 9.2 8.2 Behaviour substitution 18 18.4 8.3 Habit formation 3 3.1 8.6 Generalisation of target behaviour 2 2.0 9.1 Credible source 12 12.2 9.2 Pros and cons 1 1.0 9.3 Comparative imagining of future outcomes 6 6.1 10.9 Self-reward 2 2.0 11.2 Reduce negative emotions 2 2.0 12.2 Restructuring the social environment 2 2.0 12.3 Avoidance/reducing exposure to cues for the behaviour 5 5.1 12.5 Adding objects to the environment 1 1.0 13.1 Identification of self as role model 3 3.1 13.3 Incompatible beliefs 7 7.1 13.4 Valued self-identify 1 1.0 13.5 Identity associated with changed behaviour 2 2.0 15.1 Verbal persuasion about capability 4 4.1 15.2 Mental rehearsal of successful performance 3 3.1 15.3 Focus on past success 6 6.1 15.4 Self-talk 3 3.1 16.3 Vicarious consequences 2 2.0 a Median number of BCTs used in interventions = 3, Range = 0-14 b Supplementary
Q5. How many studies included a no intervention control as a comparator?
Sixteen studies included a ‘no intervention’ control as a comparator, four included an alternative intervention group comparator, and thirty studies compared two or more brief intervention groups.
Q6. What are some examples of the less common BCTs in the brief interventions?
Examples of the use of some of these less common BCTs within the brief interventions in this review include, teaching the use of prompts/cues by providing participants with examples of cues to facilitate a behaviour e.g. increasing availability of fruit in the home, and prompting self-talk by instructing participants to describe themselves as ‘doers’ of a particular desired behaviour.
Q7. How many studies in this review aimed to determine whether one brief intervention was more effective than another?
Two thirds (n=30) of the studies in this review aimed to determine whether one brief intervention was more effective than another, with 17 studies reporting findings to that effect.
Q8. What is the extensively evaluated approach to reducing alcohol use?
Most extensively evaluated is the application of brief interventions to reduce alcohol use, with several systematic reviews demonstrating significant outcomes to that effect 15-18.
Q9. What is the effect of the brief nutrition interventions in this review?
short-term effects of the brief nutrition interventions in this review are comparable with non-brief interventions for fruit and vegetable and fat intakes, however further studies are needed to make a conclusion on longer-term effectiveness.
Q10. What is the importance of linking interventions to the underpinning components?
This review highlights the importance of linking intervention efficacy to the underpinning intervention components, and future studies should describe interventions in detail to allow for identification and replication of information, for example publishing intervention protocol papers.
Q11. What type of intervention was used in the review by Bhattarai et al?
In the review by Bhattarai et al, interventions were more varied, including for example group or individual nutrition education sessions, and tailored dietary intervention materials encompassing education, feedback and motivational encouragement.
Q12. What is the effect of brief interventions on the health of adults?
this review suggests that brief interventions can effect short-term change in dietary behaviour, particularly for fruit, vegetable and fat intakes, with limited evidence for longer-term maintenance of behaviour change.
Q13. How many BCTs were included in the current review?
The current review found a higher ratio of effective versus non-effective interventions in those including 3-9 BCTs as opposed to 0-2 BCTs, however only two interventions included more than nine BCTs and these were not effective.
Q14. What criteria were used to assess the inclusion of BCTs?
Intervention content was assessed for the inclusion of BCTs according to the techniques and definitions listed in the 93-item Behaviour Change Taxonomy v1 27, specifically from the information provided in the intervention description.