Table 2

Summary of interventions characteristics for 27 trials included in the review

Intervention
n (%)
Control
n (%)
Type of staff delivering interventionGeneral practitioners and physicians10 (32.3)
Nurses15 (48.4)
Dietitian 7 (22.6)
Others12 (38.7)
Mode of intervention deliveryFace-to-face sessions30 (96.8)14 (45.2)
Group sessions9 (29.0) 1 (3.2)
Written materials15 (48.4)7 (22.6)
Telephone sessions8 (25.8)
Unclear13 (41.9)
Intervention sessions (n)1–4 sessions5 (16.1)9 (29.0)
5–9 sessions11 (35.5) 2 (6.5)
10–15 sessions4 (12.9) 1 (3.2)
>15 sessions5 (16.1) 1 (3.2)
Unclear6 (19.4)18 (58.1)
BCTs (n)1–2 BCTs5 (16.1)14 (45.2)
3–4 BCTs10 (32.3) 1 (3.2)
5–6 BCTs12 (38.7)
7–9 BCTs3 (9.7)
10 BCTs1 (3.2)
Unclear16 (51.6)
Frequently used BCTsCredible source (9.1)22 (70.9)6 (19.4)
Goal setting (behaviour) (1.1)19 (61.3) 2 (6.5)
Information about health consequences (5.1)9 (29.0)5 (16.1)
Instruction on how to perform a behaviour (4.1)9 (29.0) 1 (3.2)
Action planning (1.4)9 (29.0)
Self-monitoring of behaviour (2.3)8 (25.8)
  • Figures are frequencies (column percent)

  • BCT, behaviour change technique.