Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on two planning intervention techniques in health behaviour research, implementation intentions and action planning, and to develop evidence-based recommendations for effective future interventions and highlight priority areas for...

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Main Authors: Hagger, Martin, Luszczynska, A.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32868
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author Hagger, Martin
Luszczynska, A.
author_facet Hagger, Martin
Luszczynska, A.
author_sort Hagger, Martin
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on two planning intervention techniques in health behaviour research, implementation intentions and action planning, and to develop evidence-based recommendations for effective future interventions and highlight priority areas for future research. We focused our review on four key areas: (1) definition and conceptualisation; (2) format and measurement; (3) mechanisms and processes; and (4) design issues. Overall, evidence supports the effectiveness of planning interventions in health behaviour with advantages including low cost and response burden. There is, however, considerable heterogeneity in the effects across studies and relatively few registered randomised trials that include objective behavioural measures. Optimally effective planning interventions should adopt “if–then” plans, account for salient and relevant cues, include examples of cues, be guided rather than user-defined, and include boosters. Future studies should adopt randomised controlled designs, report study protocols, include fidelity checks and relevant comparison groups, and adopt long-term behavioural follow-up measures. Priority areas for future research include the identification of the moderators and mediators of planning intervention effects. Future research also needs to adopt “best practice” components of planning interventions more consistently to elucidate the mechanisms and processes involved.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-328682019-02-19T04:27:41Z Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward Hagger, Martin Luszczynska, A. behaviour change techniques action planning implementation intention health behaviour coping planning The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on two planning intervention techniques in health behaviour research, implementation intentions and action planning, and to develop evidence-based recommendations for effective future interventions and highlight priority areas for future research. We focused our review on four key areas: (1) definition and conceptualisation; (2) format and measurement; (3) mechanisms and processes; and (4) design issues. Overall, evidence supports the effectiveness of planning interventions in health behaviour with advantages including low cost and response burden. There is, however, considerable heterogeneity in the effects across studies and relatively few registered randomised trials that include objective behavioural measures. Optimally effective planning interventions should adopt “if–then” plans, account for salient and relevant cues, include examples of cues, be guided rather than user-defined, and include boosters. Future studies should adopt randomised controlled designs, report study protocols, include fidelity checks and relevant comparison groups, and adopt long-term behavioural follow-up measures. Priority areas for future research include the identification of the moderators and mediators of planning intervention effects. Future research also needs to adopt “best practice” components of planning interventions more consistently to elucidate the mechanisms and processes involved. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32868 10.1111/aphw.12017 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. fulltext
spellingShingle behaviour change techniques
action planning
implementation intention
health behaviour
coping planning
Hagger, Martin
Luszczynska, A.
Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward
title Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward
title_full Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward
title_fullStr Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward
title_full_unstemmed Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward
title_short Implementation Intention and Action Planning Interventions in Health Contexts: State of the Research and Proposals for the Way Forward
title_sort implementation intention and action planning interventions in health contexts: state of the research and proposals for the way forward
topic behaviour change techniques
action planning
implementation intention
health behaviour
coping planning
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32868