Behavioural science resources for professionals

Behavioural interventions that have been shown to help people initiate changes in their behaviour are not always successful at helping people to maintain those changes. The following paper outlines a framework for thinking about designing interventions to bring about sustainable changes in behaviour. It is based on a rapid review of the literature on behavioural maintenance and uses the COM-B model to describe 6 different types of influences on behaviour that might encourage lasting change in health protective behaviours (e.g. social distancing, handwashing etc.).

Using behaviour change maintenance theory to sustain health protective behaviours during Covid-19 (PDF 92Kb)

Social distancing clashes with the instinct to connect with others which helps people regulate emotions, cope better with stress and anxiety, and increases resilience during difficult experiences. As such, requiring residents to comply with social distancing/isolation can place them at increased risk of several negative mental health outcomes. Poor mental health has an impact upon an individual’s compliance, and as such compliance and mental health are intrinsically linked. Therefore, understanding how to support compliance to these behaviours is key to successful disease prevention, as is understanding any associated risk factors for negative impacts on mental health.

The following papers review the best available evidence, research and literature to inform decisions on how best to:

•  Support compliance to social distancing/isolation requirements in areas of local lockdown; and
• Protect the mental health and wellbeing of residents required to socially distance/isolate

8 steps to supporting compliance and mental health (PDF 348Kb)

Local lockdowns: Supporting compliance to social distancing and mental health - full review and recommendations (PDF 261Kb)

Briefing: Social distancing and self-isolation - supporting compliance (PDF 97Kb)

Briefing: Social distancing and self-isolation - supporting mental health (PDF 116Kb)

Adhering to social distancing measures is crucial to curb the spread of the virus. This includes while using public spaces and on public transport.  In order to support people to comply with social distancing measures in these spaces a series of behaviourally informed recommendations have been developed for local authorities, transport providers and partners to improve compliance and reduce risk.  

Social distancing in public spaces (PDF 135KB)Opening in a new window

Social distancing on public transport (PDF 134KB)

Responding to the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and emotional wellbeing is a national priority. 

The Hertfordshire Growth Hub, Behaviour Change Unit at Hertfordshire County Council and UCL Centre for Global Non-Communicable Diseases have recently joined forces to develop a resource for local businesses to give them the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to support the mental health of their employees.

Wellbeing during challenging times (PDF 340kb)

The development of a vaccine for coronavirus was a critical step in ending the COVID-19 pandemic. The next challenge is ensuring enough people receive the vaccination.

In recent years public acceptance and uptake of vaccinations has fallen, leading to the World Health Organization classifying ‘vaccine hesitancy’ as one of the top ten international threats to global health. This paper presents a rapid review of the literature and a series of guiding principles and evidence-based recommendations to assist local authorities in increasing vaccination amongst their residents. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Review Dec 2020 (PDF 263KB)

COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Review: Briefing Paper  (PDF 156KB)

Travel habits have changed significantly since the start of the COVID-19 and people are engaging more in ‘active travel’ (walking or cycling) than previously recorded. The benefits of active travel, to the individual and to the environment, are clear and well documented. As the COVID-19 vaccine is rolled-out across the country and restrictions on social isolation and social distancing are relaxed, people’s lives will begin to return to how they were pre-COVID. For many, this may include reverting back to previous patterns of travel behaviours.

This paper provides an overview of the research conducted on active travel, and a series of evidence-informed recommendations on how to support residents to maintain these healthier, more environmentally friendly, active travel choices.

Sustaining Resident Active Travel (PDF 153KB)

This resource has been developed to provide local authorities with the guidance and tools to engage with under-vaccinated groups in their local area. Engaging with communities will provide the insights needed to ensure that behaviourally informed approaches to increasing uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine are effective, both in terms of their content and their acceptability by the target group. Successful vaccine roll-out will only be achieved if we understand, acknowledge, and address the barriers to vaccination for all members of our community.

Covid-19 Engagement Guidance (PDF 131KB)

Pre-Engagement Local Analysis template (Docx 459KB)

Engage to Understand template  (PDF 59KB)

Engage to Empower template (PDF 54KB)