A primary care Web-based Intervention Modeling Experiment replicated behavior changes seen in earlier paper-based experiment
Abstract
Objectives: Intervention Modeling Experiments (IMEs) are a way of developing and testing behavior change interventions before a trial. We aimed to test this methodology in a Web-based IME that replicated the trial component of an earlier, paper-based IME. Study Design and Setting: Three-arm, Web-based randomized evaluation of two interventions (persuasive communication and action plan) and a "no intervention" comparator. The interventions were designed to reduce the number of antibiotic prescriptions in the management of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. General practitioners (GPs) were invited to complete an online questionnaire and eight clinical scenarios where an antibiotic might be considered. Results: One hundred twenty-nine GPs completed the questionnaire. GPs receiving the persuasive communication did not prescribe an antibiotic in 0.70 more scenarios (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.17-1.24) than those in the control arm. For the action plan, GPs did not prescribe an antibiotic in 0.63 (95% CI = 0.11-1.15) more scenarios than those in the control arm. Unlike the earlier IME, behavioral intention was unaffected by the interventions; this may be due to a smaller sample size than intended. Conclusions: A Web-based IME largely replicated the findings of an earlier paper-based study, providing some grounds for confidence in the IME methodology.
Citation
Treweek , S , Francis , J J , Bonetti , D , Barnett , K , Eccles , M P , Hudson , J , Jones , C , Pitts , N B , Ricketts , I W , Sullivan , F , Weal , M & MacLennan , G 2016 , ' A primary care Web-based Intervention Modeling Experiment replicated behavior changes seen in earlier paper-based experiment ' , Journal of Clinical Epidemiology , vol. 80 , pp. 116-122 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.07.008
Publication
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0895-4356Type
Journal article
Description
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Collections
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