The big six: key principles for effective use of Behavior substitution in interventions to de-implement low-value care

Healthcare professionals provide care to help patients; however, sometimes that care is of low value – at best ineffective and at worst harmful. To address this, recent frameworks provide guidance for developing and investigating de-implementation interventions; yet little attention has been devoted to identifying what strategies are most effective for de-implementation. In this paper, we discuss Behavior substitution, a strategy whereby an unwanted behavior is replaced with a wanted behavior, thereby making it hypothetically easier to reduce or stop the unwanted behavior. We discuss why Behavior substitution may be a useful de-implementation strategy, and why it may not be suitable for all circumstances. On the basis of the body of knowledge in behavioral science, we propose a list of principles to consider when selecting a substitute behavior for a de-implementation intervention. Applying these principles should increase the likelihood that this technique will be effective in reducing low-value care.