Introduction to Behavioural Science

Question 1

What is adherence? (in the context of maintenance or improvement of health)

Answer 1

When the patient follows the advice given by a health professional
OR
To a health professional following guidelines produced by an authoritative body with regard to prevention, management or improvement or health-related conditions

Question 2

What is the intention-behaviour gap?

Answer 2

People develop decisions to change their behaviour but do not take action

Question 3

What is the role of a dental team in terms of prevention?

Answer 3

More than telling people what to do and why
Need to support patients with HOW to do it
The provision of health information alone is unlikely to achieve sustained changes in behaviour for most people

Question 4

What is the behaviour change wheel?

Answer 4

A method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions

Question 5

What is the COM-B model?

Answer 5

A model used in behaviour change interventions
C = capability
O = opportunity 
M = motivation 
B = behaviour

Question 6

What does ‘capability’ refer to in the COM-B model?

Answer 6

Psychological: knowledge, processing, confidence
Physical: skill, dexterity

Question 7

What does ‘opportunity’ refer to in the COM-B model?

Answer 7

Physical: resources, physical environment
Social: norms; culture

Question 8

What does ‘motivation’ refer to in the COM-B model?

Answer 8

Automatic: core beliefs
Reflective: reasoned, learned

Question 9

What are the 9 intervention functions in the behaviour change wheel?

Answer 9

Education, persuasion, incentivisation, coercion, training, enablement, modelling, environmental restructuring, restrictions

Question 10

What are some examples of behavioural change techniques?

Answer 10

• Reward and punishment
• Repetition and substitution
• Distractions
• Conditioning
• Negative reinforcement
• Habit reversal

Question 11

What are the stages involved in behavioural change?

Answer 11

• Identify target behaviours
• Assess what the underlying reasons are using COM-B model
• What are ways to change/maintain behaviour? - barriers and facilitators
• Identify behavioural change techniques (BCTs)
• Implement and evaluate (feasibility - acceptability, practicability, effectiveness/cost-effectiveness, affordability, safety, equity)