An international, Delphi consensus study to identify priorities for methodological research in behavioural trials: A study protocol

Molly Byrne,Oonagh Meade,Jenny Mcsharry,Simon L Bacon,Kim L Lavoie

doi:10.12688/hrbopenres.12795.1

Abstract

Background: Effective behaviour change interventions are needed to impact important health outcomes, including morbidity and mortality. However, the uptake and impact of behavioural interventions have been limited by methodological challenges. The International Behavioural Trials Network (IBTN) was established in 2013 to facilitate global improvement in methodological quality of behavioural trials. There has been no formal process, within the network or in the broader literature, to define the most important research priorities to achieve this aim. In this project, we will conduct an international, Delphi consensus study to identify and achieve consensus on priorities for methodological research in behavioural trials among IBTN members. Methods: Fifteen core members of IBTN, who are experts in the field of behavioural intervention research, will be invited to brainstorm a complete list of all items they consider priority areas for methodological research in trials of behavioural interventions. The IBTN Research Prioritisation team (the authors) will review all items generated, removing duplicates and merging similar topics, and generate a ‘long-list’ of items. This long-list will be sent to the 15 IBTN core members for approval. We will then administer two online Delphi surveys to all IBTN members. In the first survey, respondents will be asked to rate the importance of each item on a nine-point scale and rank their top five priorities. In the second survey, respondents will receive feedback on others’ responses and a reminder of their own responses in survey 1, and will be asked to re-rate items and re-select their ‘top five’. Discussion: Findings from the project will be used to develop the research agenda of the IBTN and to make recommendations for future research.

Highlights

There is compelling evidence that behaviour change is central to global reduction of chronic disease prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease[1]
Behavioural interventions are “interventions that require the active participation of a target group in a program delivered by a trained interventionist with the proximal or ultimate goal of changing health-related behaviour”[3]
Experts in the area have concluded that the uptake and impact of behavioural interventions have been limited by methodological challenges specific to the design and conduct of behavioural trials[3] and a lack of investment from funders to conduct research to tackle these issues[4]

Summary

Introduction

1. The methodological issues examples given in the 3rd paragraph are common issues for any complex interventions. To highlight the issue of methodological problems within the behaviour change field, and the importance of this Delphi consensus study, I would like to see more evidence of specific issues with behaviour change interventions that we already know about, within disease areas or types of interventions. For example fidelity in weight loss interventions. 5th paragraph – does LimeSurvey software need to be cited with LTD or a web address?. 2. Last paragraph - how will the team agree that free text items are novel? Last paragraph - how will the team agree that free text items are novel? Will everyone agree or a majority? How will any disagreements be resolved?

Methods

Michie S

Will you be following any Delphi quality reporting guidelines?