title: From Theory-Inspired to Theory-Based Interventions: A Protocol for Developing and Testing a Methodology for Linking Behaviour Change Techniques to Theoretical Mechanisms of Action.
abstract: Understanding links between behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and mechanisms of action (the processes through which they affect behaviour) helps inform the systematic development of behaviour change interventions.
  
  
  
  This research aims to develop and test a methodology for linking BCTs to their mechanisms of action.
  
  
  
  Study 1 (published explicit links): Hypothesised links between 93 BCTs (from the 93-item BCT taxonomy, BCTTv1) and mechanisms of action will be identified from published interventions and their frequency, explicitness and precision documented. Study 2 (expert-agreed explicit links): Behaviour change experts will identify links between 61 BCTs and 26 mechanisms of action in a formal consensus study. Study 3 (integrated matrix of explicit links): Agreement between studies 1 and 2 will be evaluated and a new group of experts will discuss discrepancies. An integrated matrix of BCT-mechanism of action links, annotated to indicate strength of evidence, will be generated. Study 4 (published implicit links): To determine whether groups of co-occurring BCTs can be linked to theories, we will identify groups of BCTs that are used together from the study 1 literature. A consensus exercise will be used to rate strength of links between groups of BCT and theories.
  
  
  
  A formal methodology for linking BCTs to their hypothesised mechanisms of action can contribute to the development and evaluation of behaviour change interventions. This research is a step towards developing a behaviour change 'ontology', specifying relations between BCTs, mechanisms of action, modes of delivery, populations, settings and types of behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.affiliation: University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.affiliation: University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Marijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bruin
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Connell
mesh_terms: D001524:Behavioral Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D000068456:Clinical Studies as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D032921:Consensus; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D011582:Psychological Theory