Andrew Prestwich – författare

The new and updated edition of Health Behavior Change: Theories, Methods and Interventions, provides a complete understanding of health behavior change, from its theoretical building blocks to the practical challenges of developing and testing an intervention. Based on the latest evidence in the field, the authors present a theory-driven, scientific approach to understanding and changing health behaviors, examining the theories that explain health behavior, the techniques that most effectively change health behavior, and the methods and statistical approaches essential to generating the underpinning evidence. This approach is presented in the context of both health promoting behaviors such as healthy eating, and health risk behaviors such as smoking, and considers not only the role of individuals but also other important influences on health behavior including the environment, policy, and technology.Among other additions, the revised edition includes the following features:More classic and modern theories explained and critiquedCoverage of issues related to tackling COVID-19 through behavior changeConsideration of the replicability crisis, its causes, impact and potential solutionsWider coverage of methods including different types of randomized trials, pilot studies, feasibility studies, consensus methods, N-of-1 studies and megastudiesExpanded critical skills toolkitFostering a critical perspective, the book includes features to enable readers to better evaluate evidence and Burning Issue Boxes to highlight relevant, topical issues in the field. It will be essential reading for students and researchers of health psychology, public health and social work, as well as any professional working in this important area, particularly those tasked with reducing the high proportion of individuals failing to meet national health behavior targets.

The new and updated edition of Health Behavior Change: Theories, Methods and Interventions, provides a complete understanding of health behavior change, from its theoretical building blocks to the practical challenges of developing and testing an intervention. Based on the latest evidence in the field, the authors present a theory-driven, scientific approach to understanding and changing health behaviors, examining the theories that explain health behavior, the techniques that most effectively change health behavior, and the methods and statistical approaches essential to generating the underpinning evidence. This approach is presented in the context of both health promoting behaviors such as healthy eating, and health risk behaviors such as smoking, and considers not only the role of individuals but also other important influences on health behavior including the environment, policy, and technology.Among other additions, the revised edition includes the following features:More classic and modern theories explained and critiquedCoverage of issues related to tackling COVID-19 through behavior changeConsideration of the replicability crisis, its causes, impact and potential solutionsWider coverage of methods including different types of randomized trials, pilot studies, feasibility studies, consensus methods, N-of-1 studies and megastudiesExpanded critical skills toolkitFostering a critical perspective, the book includes features to enable readers to better evaluate evidence and Burning Issue Boxes to highlight relevant, topical issues in the field. It will be essential reading for students and researchers of health psychology, public health and social work, as well as any professional working in this important area, particularly those tasked with reducing the high proportion of individuals failing to meet national health behavior targets.

We live in an era where people live longer but also suffer from more chronic illnesses. Yet these two issues present not only significant challenges to healthcare professionals, but also governments seeking cost-effective ways to manage their health and social care budgets. Encouraging people to live healthier lifestyles is, therefore, a fundamental issue for both those at risk as well as for society as a whole. This is the first textbook to present not only the theoretical foundations that explain health behavior change but also the methods by which change can be assessed and the practical contexts where theory and method can be applied. Covering behavior change aimed at improving health as well as preventing disease, it places behavior change firmly in context with the social and demographic changes which make it such an urgent issue, from the rise in levels of obesity to an aging population. The book considers the role of individuals but also other important influences on health behavior, such as the environment in which people live, public policy and technological changes.Fostering a critical perspective, and including case studies in each chapter with key issues highlighted throughout, the book provides a complete understanding of health behavior change, from its theoretical building blocks to the practical challenges of developing and testing an intervention. It will be essential reading for students and researchers of health psychology, public health and social work, as well as any professional working in this important area.