Applying the science of behaviour change to the management of strangles

The Strangles Symposium in 2019 gathered equine stakeholders from across the industry to discuss the management and prevention of strangles in the UK. The understanding of Streptococcus equi is increasing as is the ability to identify and treat the disease. There is real potential to reduce the incidence of the disease, as highlighted through the guidance produced by experts in 2021. It has been recognised that the preventative measures identified require the behaviour of people across the equine industry to alter. The science of human behaviour change can support the veterinary profession in applying effective, evidence-based interventions to optimise the success of these changes. Pinpointing what behaviours are or are not being performed, and researching what is motivating these behaviours, is key to forming strategies within veterinary practice and at UK policy level, to ensure a targeted and consistent approach is available for people within the equine sector.

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Cognitive and environmental interventions to encourage healthy eating: evidence-based recommendations for public health policy

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.190624 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (10) ◽

pp. 190624 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lindsay A. Walker ◽

Christopher D. Chambers ◽

Harm Veling ◽

Natalia S. Lawrence

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Environmental Interventions ◽

Average Percentage ◽

Public Health Burden ◽

The Public ◽

The Uk ◽

Do So

Policymakers are focused on reducing the public health burden of obesity. The UK average percentage of adults classified as obese is 26%, which is double that of the global average. Over a third of UK adults report using at least one weight management aid. Yet, many people still struggle to change their diet-related behaviour, despite having the awareness, intention and capability to do so. This ‘intention–behaviour gap’ may be because most existing dietary-choice interventions focus on individual decision-making, ignoring the effects of environmental cues on human behaviour. Behaviour change interventions that ‘nudge’ people into making healthier choices by modifying the food environment have been shown to be effective. However, this type of intervention is typically challenging for policymakers to implement for economic, ethical and public accessibility reasons. To overcome these concerns, policymakers should consider ‘boosting’ interventions. Boosting involves enhancing competences that help people make decisions consistent with their goals. Here, we outline cognitive training as a boosting intervention to tackle obesity. We synthesize the evidence for one type of cognitive training (go/no-go training) that may be effective at modifying food-related decisions and reducing body weight. We offer evidence-based recommendations for an obesity-focused Public Health Wales behaviour change programme.

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Spring parasite update 2020

The Veterinary Nurse ◽

10.12968/vetn.2020.11.4.198 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 198-200

Author(s):

Laura Stokes ◽

Ian Wright

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Animal Health ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Parasite Control ◽

Vital Part ◽

Veterinary Profession ◽

Zoonotic Risk ◽

The Uk

While COVID-19 is impacting all of us, the veterinary profession continue to do an amazing job of continuing pet health care while keeping risk to staff and clients to a minimum. During the crisis, parasite control remains a vital part of maintaining animal health, and ESCCAP UK and Ireland continues to help disseminate the latest evidence-based parasite control advice by email, phone, website and CPD platforms to keep pets healthy and to guard against zoonotic risk. This article will provide a brief overview of some of the current parasite hot topics and threats to the UK, taking information from the quarterly Parasite Forecast published on the ESCCAP UK and Ireland website: www.esccapuk.org.uk .

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Spring parasite update 2020

Companion Animal ◽

10.12968/coan.2020.0038 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 112-116

Author(s):

Laura Stokes ◽

Ian Wright

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Animal Health ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Parasite Control ◽

Vital Part ◽

Veterinary Profession ◽

Zoonotic Risk ◽

The Uk

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Brief Behavioural Activation (Brief BA) for Adolescent Depression: A Pilot Study

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465817000443 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 182-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Laura Pass ◽

Carl W. Lejuez ◽

Shirley Reynolds

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Young People ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Clinical Effectiveness ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Behavioural Activation ◽

Evidence Based Treatments ◽

The Uk

Background: Depression in adolescence is a common and serious mental health problem. In the UK, access to evidence-based psychological treatments is limited, and training and employing therapists to deliver these is expensive. Brief behavioural activation for the treatment of depression (BATD) has great potential for use with adolescents and to be delivered by a range of healthcare professionals, but there is limited empirical investigation with this group. Aims: To adapt BATD for depressed adolescents (Brief BA) and conduct a pilot study to assess feasibility, acceptability and clinical effectiveness. Method: Twenty depressed adolescents referred to the local NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHs) were offered eight sessions of Brief BA followed by a review around one month later. Self- and parent-reported routine outcome measures (ROMs) were collected at every session. Results: Nineteen of the 20 young people fully engaged with the treatment and all reported finding some aspect of Brief BA helpful. Thirteen (65%) required no further psychological intervention following Brief BA, and both young people and parents reported high levels of acceptability and satisfaction with the approach. The pre–post effect size of Brief BA treatment was large. Conclusions: Brief BA is a promising innovation in the treatment of adolescent depression. This approach requires further evaluation to establish effectiveness and cost effectiveness compared with existing evidence-based treatments for adolescent depression. Other questions concern the effectiveness of delivery in other settings and when delivered by a range of professionals.

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Men's perception and understanding of male-factor infertility in the UK

British Journal of Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjon.2021.30.9.s8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (9) ◽

pp. S8-S16

Author(s):

Eleanor L Stevenson ◽

Cheng Ching-Yu ◽

Chang Chia-Hao ◽

Kevin R McEleny

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Emotional Support ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Public Knowledge ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Male Factor Infertility ◽

Male Factor ◽

The Public ◽

The Uk

Male-factor infertility is a common but stigmatised issue, and men often do not receive the emotional support and the information they need. This study sought to understand awareness of male fertility issues compared to female fertility among the UK general male public, and also what were perceived as being the optimum methods for providing support for affected men, emotionally and through information. Men feel that male infertility is not discussed by the public as much as female infertility. Lifestyle issues that affect male fertility are not well understood, and men affected by infertility desire more support, including online, from health professionals and through peer support. Health professionals, including those in public health, could offer evidence-based programmes to reduce stigma and increase public knowledge about infertility, as well as offer emotional support to men with infertility problems.

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Fidelity to an evidence-based model for crisis resolution teams: a cross-sectional multicentre study in Norway

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03237-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

N. Hasselberg ◽

K. H. Holgersen ◽

G. M. Uverud ◽

J. Siqveland ◽

B. Lloyd-Evans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Multidisciplinary Teams ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Crisis Resolution ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The Core ◽

Crisis Resolution Teams ◽

Fidelity Scale ◽

The Uk ◽

Evidence Based Model

Abstract Background Crisis resolution teams (CRTs) are specialized multidisciplinary teams intended to provide assessment and short-term outpatient or home treatment as an alternative to hospital admission for people experiencing a mental health crisis. In Norway, CRTs have been established within mental health services throughout the country, but their fidelity to an evidence-based model for CRTs has been unknown. Methods We assessed fidelity to the evidence-based CRT model for 28 CRTs, using the CORE Crisis Resolution Team Fidelity Scale Version 2, a tool developed and first applied in the UK to measure adherence to a model of optimal CRT practice. The assessments were completed by evaluation teams based on written information, interviews, and review of patient records during a one-day visit with each CRT. Results The fidelity scale was applicable for assessing fidelity of Norwegian CRTs to the CRT model. On a scale 1 to 5, the mean fidelity score was low (2.75) and with a moderate variation of fidelity across the teams. The CRTs had highest scores on the content and delivery of care subscale, and lowest on the location and timing of care subscale. Scores were high on items measuring comprehensive assessment, psychological interventions, visit length, service users’ choice of location, and of type of support. However, scores were low on opening hours, gatekeeping acute psychiatric beds, facilitating early hospital discharge, intensity of contact, providing medication, and providing practical support. Conclusions The CORE CRT Fidelity Scale was applicable and relevant to assessment of Norwegian CRTs and may be used to guide further development in clinical practice and research. Lower fidelity and differences in fidelity patterns compared to the UK teams may indicate that Norwegian teams are more focused on early interventions to a broader patient group and less on avoiding acute inpatient admissions for patients with severe mental illness.

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Evidence-Based Digital Tools for Weight Loss Maintenance: The NoHoW Project

Obesity Facts ◽

10.1159/000515663 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

R. James Stubbs ◽

Cristiana Duarte ◽

António L. Palmeira ◽

Falko F. Sniehotta ◽

Graham Horgan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Digital Health ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Self Management ◽

Behaviour Change Techniques ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Behavioural Science ◽

Digital Architecture

Background: Effective interventions and commercial programmes for weight loss (WL) are widely available, but most people regain weight. Few effective WL maintenance (WLM) solutions exist. The most promising evidence-based behaviour change techniques for WLM are self-monitoring, goal setting, action planning and control, building self-efficacy, and techniques that promote autonomous motivation (e.g., provide choice). Stress management and emotion regulation techniques show potential for prevention of relapse and weight regain. Digital technologies (including networked-wireless tracking technologies, online tools and smartphone apps, multimedia resources, and internet-based support) offer attractive tools for teaching and supporting long-term behaviour change techniques. However, many digital offerings for weight management tend not to include evidence-based content and the evidence base is still limited. The Project: First, the project examined why, when, and how many European citizens make WL and WLM attempts and how successful they are. Second, the project employed the most up-to-date behavioural science research to develop a digital toolkit for WLM based on 2 key conditions, i.e., self-management (self-regulation and motivation) of behaviour and self-management of emotional responses for WLM. Then, the NoHoW trial tested the efficacy of this digital toolkit in adults who achieved clinically significant (≥5%) WL in the previous 12 months (initial BMI ≥25). The primary outcome was change in weight (kg) at 12 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes included biological, psychological, and behavioural moderators and mediators of long-term energy balance (EB) behaviours, and user experience, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. Impact: The project will directly feed results from studies on European consumer behaviour, design and evaluation of digital toolkits self-management of EB behaviours into development of new products and services for WLM and digital health. The project has developed a framework and digital architecture for interventions in the context of EB tracking and will generate results that will help inform the next generation of personalised interventions for effective self-management of weight and health.

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A behaviour change intervention to reduce home exposure to second hand smoke during pregnancy in India and Bangladesh: a theory and evidence-based approach to development

Pilot and Feasibility Studies ◽

10.1186/s40814-021-00811-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Veena A. Satyanarayana ◽

Cath Jackson ◽

Kamran Siddiqi ◽

Prabha S. Chandra ◽

Rumana Huque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Delphi Survey ◽

Behaviour Change Techniques ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Behaviour Change Intervention ◽

Behaviour Change Interventions ◽

Modified Delphi ◽

Qualitative Interview Study ◽

At Home

Abstract Background Home exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is highly prevalent amongst pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries like India and Bangladesh. The literature on the efficacy of behaviour change interventions to reduce home exposure to SHS in pregnancy is scarce. Methods We employed a theory and evidence-based approach to develop an intervention using pregnant women as agents of change for their husband’s smoking behaviours at home. A systematic review of SHS behaviour change interventions led us to focus on developing a multicomponent intervention and informed selection of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) for review in a modified Delphi survey. The modified Delphi survey provided expert consensus on the most effective BCTs in reducing home exposure to SHS. Finally, a qualitative interview study provided context and detailed understanding of knowledge, attitudes and practices around SHS. This insight informed the content and delivery of the proposed intervention components. Results The final intervention consisted of four components: a report on saliva cotinine levels of the pregnant woman, a picture booklet containing information about SHS and its impact on health as well strategies to negotiate a smoke-free home, a letter from the future baby to their father encouraging him to provide a smoke-free home, and automated voice reminder and motivational messages delivered to husbands on their mobile phone. Intervention delivery was in a single face-to-face session with a research assistant who explained the cotinine report, discussed key strategies for ensuring a smoke-free environment at home and practised with pregnant women how they would share the booklet and letter with their husband and supportive family members. Conclusion A theory and evidence-based approach informed the development of a multicomponent behaviour change intervention, described here. The acceptability and feasibility of the intervention which was subsequently tested in a pilot RCT in India and Bangladesh will be published later.

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