Meta-analysis of the Effectiveness of Tailored Interventions over Time

The purpose of the current meta-analysis is to examine the effectiveness of tailored health behavior interventions across a variety of communication channels over time. Tailored interventions adjust the content and or style of communication based on feedback provided by each individual in the target population. Little is known about the rate at which behavior decays following any type of public health interventions, but such information is really critical. There were 81 studies included in the analysis with a total of 57,456 participants.When compared to a no-treatment control group, tailored interventions exhibited the greatest effects immediately (12 weeks or less) after the intervention and declined over time. Print-based tailored interventions had the largest short-term effect sizes (d = .41, 95%CI = .38, .45), followed by interpersonal interventions (d = .32, 95% CI = .19, .44), telephone-based interventions (d = .28, 95% CI = .18, .37), and computer-based interventions (d =.24, 95% CI = .07, .42). By 48 to 96 weeks after the interventions, effect sizes ranged from .09 to .18. When compared to a group that received an alternative non-tailored intervention, the tailored interventions maintained a consistent effect size advantage over time for print, interpersonal, and telephone tailored interventions. The results suggest that tailored interventions can be a valuable tool for behavior change, outperforming other more traditional non-tailored interventions. The rate of decay in intervention effects also suggests that the optimal time for booster sessions or additional intervention activities with the target group is before 16-24 weeks post intervention.