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Table 5 Weighted ranking of participant responses to the “top-five” priorities question order by the most highly ranked item in survey 2

From: An international, Delphi consensus study to identify priorities for methodological research in behavioral trials in health research

Item name

Weighted ranking score

Survey 1

Overall rank

Survey 1

Weighted ranking score Survey 2

Overall rank

Survey 2

Tailoring interventions to specific populations and contexts

94

1

109

1

Methods for ensuring that behavioral interventions are implementable into practice and policy

72

5

97

2

Specifying intervention components

80

2

75

3

Use of systematic approaches to move from evidence to intervention components

72

5

73

4

Development of novel research designs to test behavioral interventions as alternatives to, or to complement, standard randomized controlled trials (RCTs)

74

4

67

5

How to disseminate behavioral trial research findings to increase implementation

75

3

63

6

Using theory in behavioral intervention development

70

6

57

7

Measurement of process(es) of change or mechanisms of action within interventions

59

7

57

7

Determining clinically significant changes in outcomes within trials

48

9

43

8

Selection of suitable comparison group(s) within trials

49

8

33

9

Reporting intervention and comparison group(s) intervention content

37

13

25

10

Selecting appropriate behavioral outcomes for trials

44

12

20

11

Standardizing methods for reporting behavioral trials

11

23

18

12

Methods to assess intervention fidelity

32

14

17

13

Strategies to maximize trial participant recruitment and retention

47

10

16

14

Strategies to optimize intervention fidelity (including adherence)

22

18

13

15

Engaging stakeholders in the selection of outcomes (New item in survey 2)

N/A

n/a

13

15

Relationship between behavioral outcomes and clinical/other outcomes

32

14

12

16

Standardized methods for reporting and registering behavioral trials’ protocols

29

15

10

17

Novel approaches and designs for piloting behavioral interventions

45

11

9

18

Establishing criteria for progressing from trial piloting phases to full RCT

27

16

8

19

Incorporating stakeholder input in intervention development and delivery

8

24

7

20

How to optimize stakeholder engagement in behavioral trials’ research

12

22

4

21

Impact on intervention delivery of characteristics (such as qualifications and training) of those delivering interventions

20

19

4

21

Methods for cost-effectiveness analyses for behavioral trials

18

20

3

22

Strategies for handling missing data within behavioral trials

3

27

2

23

Sample-size calculations for pilot

7

25

0

24

Developing novel statistical techniques to enhance behavioral trials

3

27

0

24

Determining ideal timing of outcome measurement within trials

8

24

0

24

Testing the impact of stakeholder engagement in behavioral trial research

6

26

0

24

Trials’ research to test and develop behavioral theories

14

21

0

24

Investigating the impact of intervention intensity on outcomes (New item in survey 2)

N/A

n/a

0

24

Exploring impact of mode of intervention delivery

23

17

0

24

Contamination between study arms (intervention and comparison) within trials

14

21

0

24

Blinding of researchers and participants to study-arm allocation

0

28

0

24

  1. NB. Weights were calculated as follows: first priority = 5; second priority = 4; third priority = 3; fourth priority = 2; fifth priority = 1