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Prompting improved public health behaviours through the application of behavioural insights to message design
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Shrapnell, Anna (2020) Prompting improved public health behaviours through the application of behavioural insights to message design. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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WRAP_Theses_Shrapnell_2020_Redacted.pdf - Submitted Version - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (2694Kb) | Preview |
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3711260
Abstract
This thesis reports eight pragmatic health behaviour change research trials applying behavioural insights to message design in a government policy context and conducted between 2013 and 2015 (published between 2015 and 2020). The papers are presented in three chapters according to the intervention target group: public, patients, healthcare professionals.
The interventions were designed using a behavioural insights approach. Applied experimental methodology is used in each of the field trials. All but one intervention impacted upon the main outcome measures. The impactful interventions are implemented in national policy to varying extents as described in the thesis.
In addition to the presentation of the papers and their policy impacts, this thesis asks: Can behavioural insights frameworks optimise the application of health psychology tools and frameworks to behaviour change intervention design in a policy context? If so, how?
To answer this question each intervention is described according to health psychology and behavioural insights frameworks commonly used by behaviour change practitioners in government.
The findings suggest that behavioural insights frameworks can offer a wider perspective on the influences on behaviour and identifying additional behaviour change techniques which could improve the content of health psychology tools and frameworks.
However, whilst the approach to field testing in the relevant context used in the trials presented is respectable in terms of (i) external validity (ii) impact on the behavioural outcomes and (iii) direct implementation into policy, the selection of behaviours to change, determinants to target and techniques to target them requires more robust scientific method and strategic thinking than the behavioural insights frameworks applied currently offer.
The thesis concludes that behavioural scientists can have a greater impact on policy if disciplines work together to integrate the best of their approaches, tools and frameworks and apply this alongside full consideration of the systems within which behaviour takes place.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Communication in medicine, Health education, Health promotion, Preventive health services, Organ donors -- Supply and demand, Controlled drinking, Obesity in children -- Prevention | ||||
Official Date: | August 2020 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Department of Psychology | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Vlaev, Ivo ; Lemola, Sakari | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | 149 leaves : illustrations | ||||
Language: | eng |
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