Tuesday 19 May 2015
This blog has ended - see www.covhealthpsych.com
I no longer maintain an individual professional blog but post instead as part of the health psychology masters team at www.covhealthpsych.com
I have left my old blog entries on here largely for the purposes of personal and professional nostalgia.
Tuesday 3 September 2013
Not written anything on here for a while
Back here some time in the winter I hope.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday 6 January 2013
Bad evidence?
"Medic and author Ben Goldacre explores the idea of evidence-based policy and asks if it can ever become a reality in the UK... What is clear, is that bad policies cost us dear - both socially and economically. The challenges are many but the potential, argues Ben, could be truly transformational, both for society and for government."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01phhb9
Over the Christmas break I have been marking coursework assignments from nearly 70 undergraduate students on the Applied Health Psychology module I teach. The students' task was to critically assess the UK's Change4Life public health programme, using the best evidence available.
This entailed identifying the different behaviour change techniques employed within the programme, then checking the published evidence (from controlled trials, systematic reviews, etc.) for how effective these techniques are at changing similar behaviours (diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption) in similar populations.
The evidence is somewhat mixed. Perhaps another example of ISLAGIATT in public policy?
Best practice in health psychology and related disciplines suggests a more systematic and evidence based approach to designing large scale public health programmes. This typically involves using intervention mapping, and includes a clear plan for rigorous testing of effectiveness that is built in before the programme is launched.
Meanwhile, I am adding the following recent paper to my 'must read' list:
Piggin (2012) Turning health research into health promotion: A study of causality and ‘critical insights’ in a United Kingdom health campaign.
Examples of Intervention Mapping used to develop programmes
Aarø, L. E., Flisher, A. J., Kaaya, S., Onya, H., Fuglesang, M., Klepp, K. -., & Schaalma, H. (2006). Promoting sexual and reproductive health in early adolescence in South Africa and Tanzania: Development of a theory- and evidence-based intervention programme. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 34(2), 150-158.
Byrd, T. L., Wilson, K. M., Smith, J. L., Heckert, A., Orians, C. E., Vernon, S. W., . . . Fernandez, M. E. (2012). Using intervention mapping as a participatory strategy: Development of a cervical cancer screening intervention for Hispanic women. Health Education and Behavior, 39(5), 603-611.
Corbie-Smith, G., Akers, A., Blumenthal, C., Council, B., Wynn, M., Muhammad, M., & Stith, D. (2010). Intervention mapping as a participatory approach to developing an HIV prevention intervention in rural African American communities. AIDS Education and Prevention, 22(3), 184-202.
Day, R. S., Nakamori, M., & Yamamoto, S. (2004). Recommendations to develop an intervention for Japanese youth on weight management. Journal of Medical Investigation, 51(3-4), 154-162.
Hou, S. I., Fernandez, M. E., & Parcel, G. S. (2004). Development of a cervical cancer educational program for Chinese women using intervention mapping. Health Promotion Practice, 5(1), 80-87.
Leerlooijer, J. N., Ruiter, R. A. C., Reinders, J., Darwisyah, W., Kok, G., & Bartholomew, L. K. (2011). The world starts with me: Using intervention mapping for the systematic adaptation and transfer of school-based sexuality education from Uganda to Indonesia. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 1(2), 331-340.
Leshabari, S. C., Koniz-Booher, P., Astrøm, A. N., De Paoli, M. M., & Moland, K. M. (2006). Translating global recommendations on HIV and infant feeding to the local context: The development of culturally sensitive counselling tools in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Implementations Science, 1(1)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday 22 November 2012
Using the web to explore experiences of health and illness
References
Links
EXAMPLES OF ANXIETY SUPPORT ONLINE
Friday 8 June 2012
Self efficacy enhanced
More workshops coming soon, including:
Cognitive behavioural therapy techniques applied to health behaviour change.
Intermediate and advanced motivational interviewing - health promotion, primary prevention, long term conditions, substance misuse, working with groups, dealing with dyads, brief opportunistic interventions.
Intervention mapping - developing theory driven, evidence based programmes using proven health behaviour change techniques - especially relevant to public health.
Friday 13 April 2012
Open for bookings...
Motivational Interviewing: An Introduction
This one day workshop provides an introduction to the theory and evidence that underpin motivational interviewing, and an opportunity to try some practical tools and techniques. It is intended for the continuing professional development of anyone who works with others to promote behaviour change, for example in education, health promotion, chronic disease management, addictions, antisocial behaviour, etc.
For further details about the workshop contact: Dr. Carol Percy, Tel: 024 7688 8223 or email: c.percy@coventry.ac.uk
For any booking enquiries please contact:
The Health and Social Care Unit: Email: hscu.hls@coventry.ac.uk providing your contact Name, Telephone number, including mobile, address and your enquiry and we will contact you within 3 working days.
Course Code
HLS020_01
Course Date
17th May 2012
Places Available
15
Course Leader
Carol Percy
- Course Description
The first part of the day will cover the assumptions and spirit of motivational interviewing – what makes it a distinctive approach to supporting behaviour change. The remainder of the day will be given over to practical tools and techniques, with an opportunity for practice and constructive feedback.
The course will begin at 9.30am and finish at 17.30pm and will be based in the Graduate Centre, Jaguar Building, Coventry University. On your arrival please report to reception and they will direct you to the designated room for training.
More timetabling information will be provided on the day.
Workshop fee: £200.00, or Discounted rate of £100 for anyone registered as a student at Coventry University at the time of booking. The workshop programme includes lunch and light refreshment, a resource pack and CPD course certificate. Please advise of any special dietary requirements.
Thursday 5 April 2012
End of term
* Meeting the two week target doesn't mean you get a bonus (ha ha - as if...!). Failing to meet it means you can be deemed to have failed in your performance objectives. If you fail often enough you might not get an annual pay increment.