Complex solutions for a complex problem: A meta-analysis of the efficacy of multiple-behavior interventions on change in outcomes related to HIV.

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the success of multiple-behavior interventions and to identify whether the efficacy of such programs depends on the number of recommendations prescribed and the type of outcomes measured. Method: We conducted a synthesis of 136 research reports (N = 59,330) using a robust variance estimate model (Tanner-Smith et al., 2016) to study change between baseline and the first follow-up across multiple-behavior interventions, single-behavior interventions, and passive controls. Results: Multiple-behavior interventions were more efficacious than their single-behavior counterparts (multiple-behaviors: d = .44 [95% confidence interval, CI [.27, .60]); single-behavior: d = .21 [95% CI [.00, .43]), with efficacy varying based on the type of outcomes measured. Publication bias analysis revealed a small asymmetry but controlling for it did not eliminate these effects. There was a strong linear relation between the number of recommendations prescribed by an intervention and intervention efficacy (B = .07, SE = .01, p

Source: Health Psychology - August 26, 2021 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research