Theories underlying health promotion interventions among cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To review the theories that have been the basis for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) promoting health behavior change among adults diagnosed and treated for cancer.


METHODS
Electronic databases and recent review papers.


CONCLUSIONS
Several theories have been used in intervention development: Transtheoretical Model, Motivational Interviewing, Social Learning and Social Cognitive Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, and Cognitive Behavioral Theory. There is support for the efficacy of some of these interventions. However, there has been limited assessment of theory-based constructs and examination of the mediational role of theoretical constructs in intervention efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need to apply theory in the development of interventions to assess the effects of the intervention on the constructs and to conduct mediational tests of these constructs.
Pinto
Bernardine M
BM
Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. Bpinto@lifespan.org
Floyd
Andrea
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015399:Nursing Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D011593:Psychology, Social; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*