British journal of health psychology
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Br J Health Psychol · Nov 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyOptimizing engagement with Internet-based health behaviour change interventions: comparison of self-assessment with and without tailored feedback using a mixed methods approach.
Internet-based health behaviour interventions have variable effects on health-related outcomes. Effectiveness may be improved by optimizing the design of interventions. This study examined the specific effect on engagement of providing two different design features - tailoring and self-assessment. ⋯ The acceptability of self-assessment or monitoring components may be optimized by also providing tailored feedback. Without tailored feedback, these components do not appear to be any more engaging than generic information provision. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Digital interventions can be effective for improving a range of health outcomes and behaviours. There is huge variation in the success of different interventions using different combinations of design features. What does this study add? This study used a systematic experimental design to identify the effect on engagement of providing interactive intervention design features alone and in combination. Intervention engagement was better when self-assessment was provided in conjunction with tailored feedback.
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Br J Health Psychol · Nov 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialA pilot randomized controlled trial to increase smoking cessation by maintaining National Health Service Stop Smoking Service attendance.
The National Health Service (NHS) Stop Smoking Service (SSS) is an extremely cost-effective method of enabling smoking cessation. However, the SSS is only used by a minority of smokers. Developing interventions to maintain service attendance may help to increase the number of quitters. This study pilots an intervention aimed at maintaining attendance by (1) increasing motivation to attend through a booklet providing evidence of service effectiveness and (2) strengthening the link between motivation to attend and attendance through forming an implementation intention. ⋯ What is already known on this subject? The NHS Stop Smoking Service is an effective yet underused method of enabling smoking cessation. Low uptake levels may be due to smokers' misconception that the service will not improve their chances of quitting successfully. Improving smokers' perceptions of service efficacy may be valuable for maintaining service attendance, and subsequently improving smoking cessation levels in the United Kingdom. What does this study add? This pilot randomized controlled trial is the first to target service attendance rather than cessation levels. The results demonstrate that providing evidence of service efficacy in a simple icon array format can significantly improve service attendance.
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Br J Health Psychol · Sep 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDispositional emotion coping styles and physiological responses to expressive writing.
The purpose of these two studies was to assess how repressors and defensive, high-anxious individuals exhibit their psychological and health characteristics subjectively through self-reports and objectively through physiological markers and ratings of emotional expression. ⋯ Whereas self-reports of health outcomes and psychological traits clearly distinguish repressors and defensive, high-anxious individuals, more objective indices of emotional expressiveness and physiology do not appear to do so. The results also indicate that expressive writing may be helpful to reduce physiological arousal towards emotionally charged memories.
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Br J Health Psychol · May 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialUsing stop signals to reduce impulsive choices for palatable unhealthy foods.
Exposure to palatable foods in the environment can trigger impulsive reactions to obtain them, which may lead to unhealthy food choices and eating behaviour. Two studies tested the fundamental question whether impulsive unhealthy food choices can be altered by means of linking unhealthy palatable foods to behavioural stop signals. ⋯ What is already known on this subject? Exposure to unhealthy palatable foods in the environment can lead to impulsive food choices. People's habits towards unhealthy palatable foods and their current state of appetite are important determinants of such impulsive food choices. This impulsive behaviour is hard to change. What this study add? Linking unhealthy palatable foods to behavioural stop signals reduces choices for these foods, and increases healthy food choices. This effect is particularly strong when people's food choices are driven by their current state of appetite or habits. Behavioural stop signals foster healthy eating behaviour by modifying an impulsive determinant of behaviour.
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Br J Health Psychol · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialUsing the demand-control model of job strain to predict caregiver burden and caregiver satisfaction in the informal caregivers of heart failure patients.
The demand-control (D-C) model of job strain has generated a considerable body of empirical support in predicting psychological health outcomes in the context of work. This study aimed to extend previous work using the D-C model of job strain to predict caregiver burden and satisfaction in the informal caregivers of patients with heart failure. ⋯ The D-C model was associated with caregiver burden, but not satisfaction in caregivers, with control being the dominant predictor. Research linking the theory and findings from job strain and informal caregiving studies may elucidate both fields of research. Using the demand-control model of job strain to predict caregiver burden and caregiver satisfaction in the informal caregivers of heart failure patients.