Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Walk with Me Hybrid Virtual/In-Person Walking for Older Adults with Neurodegenerative Disease
Published on: June 16, 2023
Effect of In-Person Delivered Behavioural Interventions in People with Multimorbidity: Systematic Review and
Alessio Bricca1,2, Madalina Jäger3,4, Marie Johnston5
1Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, 5230, Odense M, Denmark. abricca@health.sdu.dk.
Background:
To investigate the effect of in-person delivered behavioural interventions in people with multimorbidity and which behaviour change techniques (BCTs), targeting lifestyle behaviours, are associated with better outcomes.
Methods:
Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL and screened reference list of reviews including people with multimorbidity, registries, and citation tracking of included studies. Meta-analyses using random-effects model to assess the effect of behavioural interventions and meta-regression analyses and effectiveness ratios to investigate the impact of mediators on effect estimates. Cochrane 'Risk of Bias Tool' 2.0 and the GRADE assessment to evaluate the overall quality of evidence.
Results:
Fourteen studies involving 1,378 people. Behavioural interventions had little to no effect on physical activity (standardised mean difference 0.38, 95% CI -0.12-0.87) and the effect on weight loss was uncertain (BMI mean difference -0.17, 95% CI -1.1-0.83) at the end-treatment follow-up. Small improvements were seen in health-related quality of life (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.17-0.42) and physical function (SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.12-0.73), and moderate improvements were seen for depression symptoms (SMD -0.70, 95% CI -0.97-0.42). Studies using the BCTs 'action planning' and 'social support (practical)' reported greater physical activity and weight loss.
Conclusions:
Behavioural interventions targeting lifestyle behaviours may improve health-related quality of life and physical function, and reduce depression, whereas little to no effect was achieved on physical activity and weight loss in people with multimorbidity. However, the evidence for physical activity and weight loss were of low quality and the end-treatment benefits diminished over time.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic...
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Behavior Modification
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies

