TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing reporting of behavior change intervention evaluations
AU - Abraham, Charles
AU - Johnson, Blair T.
AU - De Bruin, Marijn
AU - Łuszczynska, Aleksandra A.
PY - 2014/8/15
Y1 - 2014/8/15
N2 - Many behavior change interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV have been evaluated, but suboptimal reporting of evaluations hinders the accumulation of evidence and the replication of interventions. In this article, we address 4 practices contributing to this problem. First, detailed descriptions of the interventions and their implementation are often unavailable. Second, content of active control group content (such as usual care or support designed by researchers) often varies markedly between trials; yet, descriptions of this content are routinely omitted. Third, detailed process evaluations revealing the mechanisms by which interventions generate their effects, and among whom, frequently are not available. Fourth, there is a lack of replication in other contexts, which limits knowledge of external validity. This article advances recommendations made by an international group of scholars constituting the Workgroup for Intervention Development and Evaluation Research (WIDER), which has developed brief guidance to journal editors to improve the reporting of evaluations of behavior change interventions, thereby serving as an addition to reporting statements such as CONSORT. Improved reporting standards would facilitate and accelerate the development of the science of behavior change and its application in implementation science to improve public health.
AB - Many behavior change interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV have been evaluated, but suboptimal reporting of evaluations hinders the accumulation of evidence and the replication of interventions. In this article, we address 4 practices contributing to this problem. First, detailed descriptions of the interventions and their implementation are often unavailable. Second, content of active control group content (such as usual care or support designed by researchers) often varies markedly between trials; yet, descriptions of this content are routinely omitted. Third, detailed process evaluations revealing the mechanisms by which interventions generate their effects, and among whom, frequently are not available. Fourth, there is a lack of replication in other contexts, which limits knowledge of external validity. This article advances recommendations made by an international group of scholars constituting the Workgroup for Intervention Development and Evaluation Research (WIDER), which has developed brief guidance to journal editors to improve the reporting of evaluations of behavior change interventions, thereby serving as an addition to reporting statements such as CONSORT. Improved reporting standards would facilitate and accelerate the development of the science of behavior change and its application in implementation science to improve public health.
KW - behavior change
KW - evaluation
KW - process evaluation
KW - randomized controlled trials
KW - reporting standards
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904093136&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000231
DO - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000231
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84904093136
SN - 1525-4135
VL - 66
SP - S293-S299
JO - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes : JAIDS.
JF - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes : JAIDS.
IS - Suppl. 3
ER -