Evidence mapPaperPMID 42398932Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2026

Identifying Behavior Change Techniques for Digital Interventions Addressing Alcohol and Tobacco Co-Use: Findings From a Delphi Consensus Study.

Anuijan Chandran, Scott Veldhuizen, Kamna Mehra, Laurie Zawertailo, Jurgen Rehm, Christian S Hendershot, Peter Selby, Nadia Minian

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Anuijan ChandranINTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3256-7742
Scott VeldhuizenINTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3969-2756
Kamna MehraINTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9856-213X
Laurie ZawertailoINTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4547-1565
Jurgen RehmInstitute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5665-0385
Christian S HendershotDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5328-2035
Peter SelbyINTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5401-2996
Nadia MinianINTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8179-3628

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlcohol and tobacco use frequently co-occur and contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. Despite the well-established benefits of addressing both behaviors simultaneously, health care professionals often face substantial challenges in delivering integrated interventions, including limited time, training, and resources. Digital health interventions offer a promising avenue to directly support patients in reducing alcohol and tobacco use, while bypassing some of the barriers encountered in clinical settings. However, there is a lack of consensus on the key behavior change techniques (BCTs) that must be incorporated to ensure that interventions are evidence based and contextually appropriate, making them effective.

objectiveThe study aims to identify expert opinions on the most suitable and effective BCTs (reflecting both behavioral relevance and delivery feasibility) to be included in a 1-time, self-guided digital intervention intended to initiate behavior change and support alcohol reduction among people trying to quit smoking.

methodsWe conducted a 2-round modified Delphi study with 14 panelists with expertise in behavioral science, alcohol and tobacco treatment, and digital interventions. Panelists rated 20 BCTs identified in a previous rapid review using the acceptability, practicability, effectiveness, affordability, safety, and equity (APEASE) criteria. BCTs were deemed "appropriate" if at least 70% (n=10) of panelists agreed on all criteria.

resultsSix BCTs were identified as appropriate for implementation: goal setting, action planning (individualized change plan), action planning (reduction strategies), feedback on behavior, reattribution, and pros and cons. These BCTs were considered effective for promoting behavior change through structured planning and personalized strategies. The panel reached partial consensus on several BCTs, while 8 BCTs were deemed inappropriate for a 1-time, unsupervised digital intervention.

conclusionsThe results of this study offer a consensus-based view, reflecting expert opinion on the perceived appropriateness and feasibility of the BCTs that should be included in a 1-time digital intervention to address co-occurring alcohol and tobacco use.

Indexed as

Alcohol DrinkingBehavior TherapyConsensusDelphi TechniqueDigital HealthHumansalcoholbehavior change techniquescessationDelphi studyreductiontobacco

Identifiers

PMID42398932
PMCPMC13379691

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.