Do automated digital health behaviour change interventions have a positive effect on self-efficacy? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Self-efficacy is an important determinant of health behaviour. Digital interventions are a potentially acceptable and cost-effective way of delivering programmes of health behaviour change at scale. Whether behaviour change interventions work to increase self-efficacy in this context is unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to identify whether automated digital interventions are associated with positive changes in self-efficacy amongst non-clinical populations for five major health behaviours, and which BCTs are associated with that change. A systematic literature search identified 20 studies (n=5624) that assessed changes in self-efficacy and were included in a random effects meta-analysis. Interventions targeted: healthy eating (k=4), physical activity (k=9), sexual behaviour (k=3), and smoking (k=4). No interventions targeting alcohol use were identified. Overall, interventions had a small, positive effect on self-efficacy ( ̅ = 0.190, CI [0.078; 0.303]). The effect of interventions on self-efficacy did not differ as a function of health behaviour type (Qbetween = 7.3704 p = 0.061, df = 3). Inclusion of the BCT 'information about social and environmental consequences' had a small, negative effect on self-efficacy (∆ ̅ = -0.297, Q=7.072, p=0.008). Whilst this review indicates that digital interventions can be used to change self-efficacy, which techniques work best in this context is not clear.

Self-efficacy, habit strength, health locus of control and response to the personalised nutrition Food4Me intervention study

“…This is consistent with previous qualitative research which emphasised the importance of motivational factors to personalised nutrition (Stewart- Knox et al, 2013;Rankin et al, 2016) and survey research indicating associations between self-efficacy and attitudes and intention to adopt personalised nutrition (Poínhos et al, 2014). This finding is also consistent with research linking self-efficacy to healthy eating (de Borba et al, 2021;Newby et al, 2020;Lo et al, 2019;Churchill et al, 2019;Naughton et al, 2015;Ferranti et al, 2014;Williams et al, 2012;Anderson et al, 2000). That NS-E did not differ between the control and intervention group post-intervention implies it did not impact upon response to the trial and is contrary to previous studies that have observed increased intake of vegetables (Bouwman et al, 2020), increased fruit and vegetable intake (Smith et al, 2020) and reduced fast food consumption (Smith et al, 2020) in response to enhanced self-efficacy.…”

“…Evidence from recent RCT (Bouwman et al , 2020) has indicated that higher self-efficacy can improve vegetable intake and adherence to healthy eating plans. Recent research (Bracken and Waite, 2020) and systematic review (Newby et al , 2020) have implied that self-efficacy is associated with response to digitally delivered behaviour change interventions. Together, this suggests that individuals with higher NS-E would be more likely to achieve healthy dietary behaviour changes following personalised nutrition advice.…”

Computerized migraine diagnostic tools: a systematic review

“… 103 People with migraine can increase their self-efficacy and get a greater control of their health by using digital tools. 104 Personalized migraine care can be facilitated by digital tools. 105 Headache care providers can obtain a comprehensive objective overview of the patient including real-time monitoring via sensors and diary recording.…”

Autoeficacia para el desempeño de actividad física en personas mayores

“…Diversos estudios muestran que las percepciones de autoeficacia juegan un papel significativo en la conducta para hacer actividad física, donde aquellas personas con mayores niveles de autoeficacia muestran frecuentemente un mayor compromiso y adherencia a un programa regular de actividad física que aquellas con niveles más bajos de autoeficacia, lo cual es consecutivamente un fuerte predictor del mantenimiento de actividad física durante al menos seis meses siguientes al inicio del programa 25 . Simultáneamente, se ha establecido que los valores de conocimiento y autoeficacia se correlacionaron positivamente con la conducta de hacer actividad física, pero los valores previos de la autoeficacia se correlacionaron negativamente con cambios en la conducta de ejecutar algun tipo de actividad física, es decir, la adopción inicial y participación voluntaria 26 . En este sentido, la mayor evidencia se concentra en la práctica de yoga, donde se ha observado que su realización regular conduce a la experiencia de un cuerpo sano y entrenado, mejoran el compromiso y la autoeficacia 27 .…”