Moffat, A, Smith, L, Chater, A, Spanou, C and Cook, E (2023) The use of behavioural science within public health: a cross-sectional survey of UK local authority. In: 37th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, 4 - 8 September 2023, Bremen, Germany.
Abstract
Background: In the UK, local authorities are responsible for public health and are expected to utilise behavioural science disciplines, including health psychology, to understand and support health behaviour change. A previous qualitative study undertaken by the authors indicates that behavioural science use by local authorities may be limited and impacted by a range of psychosocial factors. This study aims to build upon these findings by assessing behavioural science use and its determinants nationally across UK local authorities. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design will be adopted. An adapted version of the Determinants of Implementation Behaviour Questionnaire will be completed by 410 local authority public health practitioners, recruited via purposive sampling. Following descriptive statistics, hierarchical multiple regressions will assess the relationship between behavioural science use and its determinants within this population. Expected results: It is anticipated that the overall use of behavioural science will be low across UK local authorities. It is further expected that the successful use of behavioural science will be strongly predicted by organisational influences as well as having the knowledge and skills in how to apply behavioural science. Current stage of work: Data collection to start imminently pending anticipated confirmation of ethical approval. Discussion: This study will enable a more comprehensive understanding of UK local authorities' use of behavioural science within public health. This knowledge will facilitate the development of targeted interventions aimed at building capacity within local authority public health teams to successfully apply behavioural science and behaviour change frameworks to support population-level behaviour change.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | School of Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Sep 2025 18:28 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Sep 2025 18:28 |
| URN: | https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/17291 |
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