Methodological issues in research on web-based behavioral interventions.
BACKGROUND
Web-based behavioral intervention research is rapidly growing.


OBJECTIVE
We review methodological issues shared across Web-based intervention research to help inform future research in this area.


METHODS
We examine measures and their interpretation using exemplar studies and our research.


RESULTS
We report on research designs used to evaluate Web-based interventions and recommend newer, blended designs. We review and critique methodological issues associated with recruitment, engagement, and social validity.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that there is value to viewing this burgeoning realm of research from the broader context of behavior change research. We conclude that many studies use blended research designs, that innovative mantling designs such as the Multiphase Optimization Strategy and Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial methods hold considerable promise and should be used more widely, and that Web-based controls should be used instead of usual care or no-treatment controls in public health research. We recommend topics for future research that address participant recruitment, engagement, and social validity.
Danaher
Brian G
BG
Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. briand@ori.org
Seeley
John R
JR
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D012107:Research Design; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*