Abstract
BackgroundThere is a need for development of more effective interventions to achieve healthy eating, enhance healthy ageing, and to reduce the risk of age-related diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) used in complex dietary behaviour change interventions and to explore the association between BCTs utilised and intervention effectiveness.MethodsWe undertook a secondary analysis of data from a previous systematic review with meta-analysis of the effectiveness of dietary interventions among people of retirement age. BCTs were identified using the reliable CALO-RE taxonomy in studies reporting fruit and vegetable (F and V) consumption as outcomes. The mean difference in F and V intake between active and control arms was compared between studies in which the BCTs were identified versus those not using the BCTs. Random-effects meta-regression models were used to assess the association of interventions BCTs with F and V intakes.ResultsTwenty-eight of the 40 BCTs listed in the CALO-RE taxonomy were identified in the 22 papers reviewed. Studies using the techniques ‘barrier identification/problem solving’ (93 g, 95% confidence interval (CI) 48 to 137 greater F and V intake), ‘plan social support/social change’ (78 g, 95%CI 24 to 132 greater F and V intake), ‘goal setting (outcome)’ (55 g 95%CI 7 to 103 greater F and V intake), ‘use of follow-up prompts’ (66 g, 95%CI 10 to 123 greater F and V intake) and ‘provide feedback on performance’ (39 g, 95%CI −2 to 81 greater F and V intake) were associated with greater effects of interventions on F and V consumption compared with studies not using these BCTs. The number of BCTs per study ranged from 2 to 16 (median = 6). Meta-regression showed that one additional BCT led to 8.3 g (95%CI 0.006 to 16.6 g) increase in F and V intake.ConclusionsOverall, this study has identified BCTs associated with effectiveness suggesting that these might be active ingredients of dietary interventions which will be effective in increasing F and V intake in older adults. For interventions targeting those in the peri-retirement age group, ‘barrier identification/problem solving’ and ‘plan for social support/social change’ may be particularly useful in increasing the effectiveness of dietary interventions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-014-0177-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
There is a need for development of more effective interventions to achieve healthy eating, enhance healthy ageing, and to reduce the risk of age-related diseases
In a recent critical analysis of the evidence on the effectiveness of dietary interventions in those 54- to 70-years old we reported that dietary interventions in this life stage produce increases in F and V intake of 88 g/day which are sustainable in the longer term and likely to be of public health significance [5]
In a recent systematic review of dietary interventions focusing on the Mediterranean diet (MD) or any of its food components and targeting people of retirement age, we identified F and V intake as the most commonly reported dietary outcome [5]
Summary
There is a need for development of more effective interventions to achieve healthy eating, enhance healthy ageing, and to reduce the risk of age-related diseases. The development and implementation of effective dietary interventions have considerable potential to improve health in later life but interventions targeting people of retirement age are lacking. There was considerable heterogeneity only partially associated with type of intervention, study design, ethnicity, sex, geographic origin of studies and mode of delivery of interventions. These findings together with previous analysis of interventions delivered in primary care settings [6,7], suggests that there is a need for better understanding of the effective components of such behavioural interventions. Identification of the most effective behaviour change techniques (BCTs) associated with improved outcomes in lifestyle interventions [9] would have considerable utility in informing the development of effective future interventions
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