Promising behavior change techniques in a multicomponent intervention to reduce concerns about falls in old age: a...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Complex interventions require understanding of individual components for efficacy.
• The 'A Matter of Balance' (AMB-NL) intervention targets fall concerns in older adults.
• Evidence on specific behavior change techniques (BCTs) within such interventions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the most and least promising BCTs within the AMB-NL intervention.
• To provide evidence for optimizing complex behavior change interventions.
• To understand the effectiveness of specific BCTs in fall prevention for the elderly.

Main Methods:

• Identification of 27 BCTs within the AMB-NL intervention.
• An online, two-round Delphi survey involving 16 international experts.
• Consensus building to determine the most and least promising BCTs based on importance and agreement.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached on 23 out of 27 identified BCTs (>85%).
• Most promising BCTs included goal setting (behavior), graded tasks, and behavioral practice/rehearsal.
• Least promising BCTs were information about health consequences, salience of consequences, and information about emotional consequences.

Conclusions:

• This study offers initial evidence on the relative promise of BCTs in a complex intervention for fall prevention.
• Findings can guide the refinement and development of effective behavior change strategies for older adults.
• Further research into BCT effectiveness is essential for evidence-based practice in gerontology and public health.