Table 4 Frequency of behaviour change techniques in all trials and in trials of high and acceptable quality, effective versus ineffective in reducing cancer-related fatigue
|  | All studies (N = 29) | Studies of high and acceptable quality (N = 19) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Behaviour change techniques* | Effective studies (n = 17) | Ineffective studies (n = 12) | Effective studies (n = 13) | Ineffective studies (N = 6) | ||||
% | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | |
1.1. Goal setting (behaviour) | 76.5 | 13 | 100.0 | 12 | 76.9 | 10 | 100.0 | 6 |
1.2. Problem solving | 41.2 | 7 | 50.0 | 6 | 46.2 | 6 | 50.0 | 3 |
1.3. Goal setting (outcome) | 11.8 | 2 | 16.7 | 2 | 15.4 | 2 | 16.7 | 1 |
1.4. Action planning | 47.1 | 8 | 50.0 | 6 | 46.2 | 6 | 33.3 | 2 |
1.5. Review behaviour goal(s) | 29.4 | 5 | 33.3 | 4 | 30.8 | 4 | 66.7 | 4 |
1.6. Discrepancy between current behaviour and goal | 5.9 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 7.7 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 |
1.8. Behavioural contract | 5.9 | 1 | 8.3 | 1 | 7.7 | 1 | 16.7 | 1 |
2.1. Monitoring of behaviour by others without feedback behaviour | 11.8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 15.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 |
2.2. Feedback on behaviour | 47.1 | 8 | 75.0 | 9 | 53.8 | 7 | 66.7 | 4 |
2.3. Self-monitoring of behaviour | 41.2 | 7 | 75.0 | 9 | 46.2 | 6 | 83.3 | 5 |
2.4. Self-monitoring of outcome(s) of behaviour | 23.5 | 4 | 8.3 | 1 | 15.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 |
2.5. Monitoring of outcome(s) of behaviour without feedback | 11.8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 15.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 |
2.6. Biofeedback | 17.6 | 3 | 33.3 | 4 | 7.7 | 1 | 50.0 | 3 |
2.7. Feedback on outcome(s)of behaviour | 11.8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 15.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 |
3.1. Social support (unspecified) | 41.2 | 7 | 66.7 | 8 | 38.5 | 5 | 83.3 | 5 |
3.3. Social support (emotional) | 17.6 | 3 | 25.0 | 3 | 15.4 | 2 | 33.3 | 2 |
4.1 Instruction on how to perform the behaviour | 88.2 | 15 | 91.7 | 11 | 92.3 | 12 | 83.3 | 5 |
5.1 Information about health consequences | 29.4 | 5 | 41.7 | 5 | 38.5 | 5 | 50.0 | 3 |
5.6 Anticipated regret | 0.0 | 0 | 8.3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 16.7 | 1 |
6.1 Demonstration of the behaviour | 76.5 | 13 | 66.7 | 8 | 84.6 | 11 | 83.3 | 5 |
6.2 Social comparison | 5.9 | 1 | 8.3 | 1 | 7.7 | 1 | 16.7 | 1 |
6.3 Information about others’ approval | 0.0 | 0 | 8.3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
7.1 Prompts/cues | 23.5 | 4 | 25.0 | 3 | 30.8 | 4 | 33.3 | 2 |
7.7 Exposure | 5.9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
8.1 Behavioural practice/rehearsal | 88.2 | 15 | 83.3 | 10 | 92.3 | 12 | 83.3 | 5 |
8.3 Habit formation | 11.8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 7.7 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 |
8.6 Generalisation of target behaviour | 29.4 | 5 | 16.7 | 2 | 30.8 | 4 | 33.3 | 2 |
8.7 Graded tasks | 58.8 | 10 | 66.7 | 8 | 53.8 | 7 | 66.7 | 4 |
9.1 Credible source | 64.7 | 11 | 91.7 | 11 | 69.2 | 9 | 100.0 | 6 |
9.2 Pros and cons | 11.8 | 2 | 8.3 | 1 | 15.4 | 2 | 16.7 | 1 |
10.3 Non-specific reward | 5.9 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 7.7 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 |
10.4 Social reward | 5.9 | 1 | 8.3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
11.2 Reduce negative emotions | 23.5 | 4 | 25.0 | 3 | 23.1 | 3 | 16.7 | 1 |
12.1 Restructuring the physical environment | 11.8 | 2 | 8.3 | 1 | 15.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 |
12.3 Avoidance/reducing exposure to cues for the behaviour | 11.8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 7.7 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 |
12.5 Adding objects to the environment | 17.6 | 3 | 8.3 | 1 | 23.1 | 3 | 16.7 | 1 |
12.6 Body changes | 11.8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 15.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 |
13.2 Framing/reframing | 11.8 | 2 | 8.3 | 1 | 7.7 | 1 | 16.7 | 1 |
15.4 Self-talk | 5.9 | 1 | 8.3 | 1 | 7.7 | 1 | 16.7 | 1 |
16.2 Imaginary reward | 5.9 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |