title: A Systematic Review Exploring the Social Cognitive Theory of Self-Regulation as a Framework for Chronic Health Condition Interventions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Theory is often recommended as a framework for guiding hypothesized mechanisms of treatment effect. However, there is limited guidance about how to use theory in intervention development.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review to provide an exemplar review evaluating the extent to which use of theory is identified and incorporated within existing interventions. We searched electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and EMBASE from inception to May 2014. We searched clinicaltrials.gov for registered protocols, reference lists of relevant systematic reviews and included studies, and conducted a citation search in Web of Science. We included peer-reviewed publications of interventions that referenced the social cognitive theory of self-regulation as a framework for interventions to manage chronic health conditions. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for eligibility. We contacted all authors of included studies for information detailing intervention content. We describe how often theory mechanisms were addressed by interventions, and report intervention characteristics used to address theory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 202 articles that reported using the social cognitive theory of self-regulation, 52% failed to incorporate self-monitoring, a main theory component, and were therefore excluded. We included 35 interventions that adequately used the theory framework. Intervention characteristics were often poorly reported in peer-reviewed publications, 21 of 35 interventions incorporated characteristics that addressed each of the main theory components. Each intervention addressed, on average, six of eight self-monitoring mechanisms, two of five self-judgement mechanisms, and one of three self-evaluation mechanisms. The self-monitoring mechanisms 'Feedback' and 'Consistency' were addressed by all interventions, whereas the self-evaluation mechanisms 'Self-incentives' and 'External rewards' were addressed by six and four interventions, respectively. The present review establishes that systematic review is a feasible method of identifying use of theory as a conceptual framework for existing interventions. We identified the social cognitive theory of self-regulation as a feasible framework to guide intervention development for chronic health conditions.
authors.affiliation: Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Centre for Research in Family Health, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Michelle E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Tougas
authors.affiliation: Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Jill A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hayden
authors.affiliation: Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Centre for Research in Family Health, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Canada Research Chair, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Science, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.affiliation: Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Centre for Research in Family Health, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huguet
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Family Health, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Sharlene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rozario
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D000068356:Self-Control; D066269:Social Theory