Table 2 Description of included papers and use of framework (n = 10)

Curtis, 2015 UK [19]

BCW framework with user-centered design informed app intervention development process. Existing evidence, supplemented by thematic analysis of data from focus groups (n = 9) with weight management case workers and parents of children aged 5–11 years (n = 46) and experts.

Parents

Provision of appropriate food portion sizes

A user-centred healthy eating app app to target childhood weight management

COM-B used to assess determinants through consideration of current evidence, focus groups and consultation with experts. BCW used to map relevant BCTs

Mann, 2014USA [20]

Intervention development by the research team (no participants).

People with hypertension

Lifestyle including a healthy diet (including reduced sodium intake) and exercise

An m-Health version of the existing DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) intervention. A hypertension reduction lifestyle modification system

Implicit use of COM-B to identify behaviour change techniques

Martin 2015 Ireland [21]

Intervention development and trial design research team design no participants. Cluster RCT

Children 8–11 years

Exercise

“Active Classrooms” 8 week classroom based physical intervention aimed to increase physical activity

Barriers from the literature categorised to COM-B and BCW used to identify BCTs

McEachan, 2016 UK [22]

Feasibility RCT (n = 120) of an existing intervention. Consenting women randomly allocated to HAPPY or usual care. Outcome measures for full trial explored.

Overweight or obese women during and after pregnancy

Make healthy food choices and increase physical activity

“HAPPY” Healthy and Active Parenting Programme for early Years aimed at reducing risk of obesity in infants of overweight or obese women. (Details of intervention in [23])

Interventions were mapped to behavioural determinants which were categorised to the TDF

Munir 2018 UK [24]

Intervention development involving focus group with NHS staff (n = 39) to identify barriers and facilitators. Data used with taxonomy of Behaviour Change Techniques to identify strategies for behaviour change. Participant sub-group tested several electronic self-monitoring devices.

Sedentary office workers

Reduction in time spent sitting

“Stand More AT Work (SMArT Work)”. Four devices that monitor and feedback on sitting/inactivity.

Intervention design guided by the BCW eight stage process.

Robinson, 2013 UK [25]

Intervention development and feasibility testing in 4 week trial involving overweight and obese university staff (n = 12). Semi-structured interviews to assess acceptability and uncover barriers to use. Adherence monitored electronically

Overweight people

Attentive eating

A smartphone based attentive eating intervention to reduce calorie intake

Intervention design guided by BCW eight stage process.

Taylor, 2013 UK [26]

Intervention mapping framework used

i. Needs assessment and review of evidence base

ii. Desired outcomes and barriers to these identified and mapped in interviews (n = 12), focus groups (n = 27) and surveys with parents and grandparents (n = 1242) and health care practitioners (n = 20). Barriers mapped according to psychological determinants.

iii.theory based methods for overcoming barriers identified

iv. design of intervention

v adoption and implementation in Children Centres

Overweight or obese women during and after pregnancy

Make healthy food choices and increase physical activity

“HAPPY” Healthy and Active Parenting Programme for early Years to prevent childhood obesity

TDF used to needs assess, identification of barriers, mapping to BCTs.

Tombor 2016 UK [23]

Intervention development in comprising three main stages

i. preparation, involving focus groups healthcare providers and interviews with pregnant smokers to establish what would need to change in pregnant smokers or the environment

ii. design

iii. Piloting with non-pregnant users (n = 6)

Pregnant smokers

Smoking cessation

“SmokeFree Baby” smartphone app to help pregnant women stop smoking. Includes brief advice, motivational messages, positive role models, information about foetal development and a video diary.

BCW/COM-B to guide interviews and focus groups and to select BCTs. The BCW eight step process was followed.

van Agteren 2018 Australia [27]

Intervention development using existing evidence base, interviews (n = 16) and focus groups (n = 5) with smokers and health professionals to assess needs

Smokers

Smoking cessation

“Kick.it” a mobile health intervention involving a logging smoking and cravings, reminders, social network, educational and motivation videos.

TDF to conduct a needs assessment mapped to BCTs which underpinned the intervention

Webster, 2015 UK [28]

Intervention development involved review of existing evidence, interviews with male clinic attendants (n = 20) followed by a workshop of experts (n = 13). Three focus groups (n = 16) and interviews (n = 7) with clinic users. Intervention designed to address target behaviours. User testing (n = 16) to refine intervention.

Heterosexual men

To increase condom use

“MenSS” (Men’s Safer Sex), an interactive digital intervention to prevent sexually transmitted infections

BCW to categorise behavioural determinants (from literature, experts and interviews with target population) and to select BCTs