Abstract
Purpose
To determine, evaluate, and synthesize the best available evidence about the evidence‐based pragmatic effects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on lifestyle and behavioral changes (LBCs).
Design and Methods
The PICOS formulations were used to improve the search strategy of this systematic review with the aim to find the right evidence and ask the right questions. The assessed articles were subjected to quality assessment using the PRISMA checklist and the Joanna Briggs Institute’s standardized critical assessment and data extraction tools.
Findings
This study involved 30 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which met the research criteria. Although the included RCTs have several limitations in themselves, the results of this study suggested that the ACT will help maintain long‐term LBCs (eg, weight management, effective coping with substance‐related and addictive problems, eating and physical activity).
Practice Implications
Given that ACT is a trandiagnostic approach that promotes health‐related LBCs in many diseases and populations, it seems reasonable for clinicians to use and test ACT to achieve pragmatic results.