Using Biological Feedback to Promote Health Behavior Change in Adults: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Background: Many health conditions can be prevented, managed, or improved through behavioral interventions. As a component of health behavior change interventions, biological feedback is of particular interest given recent advances in wearable biosensing technology, digital health apps, and personalized health and wellness. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of literature to guide the design and implementation of interventions that incorporate biological feedback to motivate health behavior change. Objective: The goal of this scoping review is to deeply explore the use of biological feedback as a component of health behavior change interventions that target adults. The objectives of the review include (1) mapping the domains of research that incorporate biological feedback and (2) describing the operational characteristics of using biological feedback in the context of health behavior change. Methods: A comprehensive list of search terms was developed to capture studies from a wide range of domains. The studies to be included are randomized controlled trials published as primary research articles, theses, or dissertations targeting adults 18 years and older, who use biological feedback to change a health-related behavior. The following electronic databases were searched: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. The screening and data extraction process will be guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis and conducted by trained reviewers. Results: Database searches were completed in June 2021. A total of 50,459 unique records were returned after the removal of 48,634 duplicate records. The scoping review is planned for completion in 2022. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this will be the first scoping review to map the literature that uses biological feedback as a component of health behavior change interventions targeting adults. The findings will be used to develop a framework to guide the design and implementation of future health behavior change interventions that incorporate biological feedback.