wider-recommendations
AIMS of WIDER
Workgroup for Intervention Development and Evaluation Research [WIDER] aims to improve reporting of behaviour change interventions following from the CONSORT agreement. We believe this is crucial to ensure the accurate adoption of successful behaviour change interventions and to facilitate accumulation of theoretical understanding through evaluations of behaviour change interventions. Without such progress, we believe that the development of a science of behaviour change will be impeded.
WIDER met for the first time in the Department of Work & Social Psychology at the 2007 European Health Psychology Society Conference.
We have three aims. First, to ensure that reports of interventions in journal articles clearly list the change techniques included as well as providing details of those that receive the intervention, those who deliver it, the setting, the mode of delivery, the intensity of delivery, the duration of the intervention and whether delivery was checked in relation to protocols set out in the intervention manual. Second, to ensure that equivalent information is provided for control groups. Third, to ensure that clearly written intervention manuals which allow accurate replication are available for all published evaluations of behaviour change interventions in at accessible internet location.
WIDER at EHPS 2008
WIDER Symposium
With the support of EHPS, WIDER is supporting a symposium at the European Health Psychology Society conference in 2008. The symposium is designed to raise awareness of the need to improve reporting of behaviour change interventions (BCIs).
Symposium Summary: Blair Johnson will illustrate how current reporting practice limits the power of meta-analytic reviews of BCIs to pinpoint determinants of effectiveness and suggest reporting improvements. Herman Schaalma will show how adherence to intervention mapping protocols could clarify the links between theorised change mechanisms and change techniques employed in BCIs. Charles Abraham will present preliminary proposals on aspects of content and delivery which should be specified in journal articles and manuals describing BCIs. Dolores Albarracín will focus on advances being made in the design of BCIs which allow greater integration of factors determining effectiveness and also enhance ecological validity. Finally, Robert Kaplan, editor of Health Psychology will provide an editorial perspective on what is required to raise design and reporting standards in the behaviour change field.
Discussion with Editors
WIDER is also inviting a series of journal editors who are likely to be responsible for publishing evaluations of behaviour change interventions to discuss these issues at EHPS 2008.
Editors from the following journals have already agreed to participate in this discussion Addiction, BMC Public Health, British Journal of Health Psychology, Health Psychology, Health Psychology Review, Implementation Science, International Journal for Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, Journal of Health Psychology, Patient Education and Counselling, Preventive Medicine, Psychology & Health and Social Science and Medicine.
The meeting will be a first step towards improving the description of behaviour change intervention content in journal articles and manuals/ protocols.
Contact Charles Abraham if you want to join WIDER (see home page).