title: A review of behaviour change theories and techniques used in group based self-management programmes for chronic low back pain and arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical Research Council (MRC) guidelines recommend applying theory within complex interventions to explain how behaviour change occurs. Guidelines endorse self-management of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and osteoarthritis (OA), but evidence for its effectiveness is weak.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This literature review aimed to determine the use of behaviour change theory and techniques within randomised controlled trials of group-based self-management programmes for chronic musculoskeletal pain, specifically CLBP and OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-phase search strategy of electronic databases was used to identify systematic reviews and studies relevant to this area. Articles were coded for their use of behaviour change theory, and the number of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) was identified using a 93-item taxonomy, Taxonomy (v1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 articles of 22 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which only three reported having based their intervention on theory, and all used Social Cognitive Theory. A total of 33 BCTs were coded across all articles with the most commonly identified techniques being 'instruction on how to perform the behaviour', 'demonstration of the behaviour', 'behavioural practice', 'credible source', 'graded tasks' and 'body changes'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrate that theoretically driven research within group based self-management programmes for chronic musculoskeletal pain is lacking, or is poorly reported. Future research that follows recommended guidelines regarding the use of theory in study design and reporting is warranted.
authors: UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: alison.keogh@ucdconnect.ie.
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Keogh
authors: Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom; UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (NI), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.tully@qub.ac.uk.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Tully
authors: UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Institute for Sport and Health, Newstead, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: james.matthews@ucd.ie.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Matthews
authors: UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Institute for Sport and Health, Newstead, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: deirdre.hurleyosing@ucd.ie.
authors: Deirdre A
authors: DA
authors: Hurley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Behaviour change techniques; Behaviour change theory; Review; Self-management