Pregnancy as an opportunity for behavior change

Managing water demand by reducing water consumption and improving water use efficiency has become essential for ensuring water security. This research aimed to identify the primary determinants of household water consumption in an Australian Indigenous community to develop evidence-based water demand management policies and strategies that might be implemented by the water service provider. A behavior change framework was applied to investigate the opportunity, ability, and motivational determinants affecting household water consumption and conservation in an Australian Indigenous community. The lack of water conservation knowledge and skills of high water users could be barriers to saving water. Low water users have positive attitudes towards water conservation and a higher level of awareness about their own water use. While there is a lack of a belief that water shortages will occur, low water users do have concerns of vulnerability to droughts, and that could be a driver for their sense of obligation to engage in water conservation practices. The research recommended communication messages and tools to address identified barriers to enabling positive changes to water use behaviors, which have wider applications in remote Australian Indigenous communities.

Background: Nutrition labelling schemes at the point‐of‐choice allow opportunity for behaviour change by modifying the environment. In the workplace they provide a particularly good opportunity to expose employees repeatedly to healthier food choices. The Heartbeat Award scheme (HBA) is an example of such a scheme and was launched in England in 1990 by the Health Education Authority. Method: Twenty point‐of‐choice labelling schemes are reviewed in the workplace, public eating places and universities. We outline the characteristics of effective programmes, and suggest how the HBA scheme could be developed to maximize its impact. Results: Nutrition labelling schemes may be most effective when they are adapted for the target audience and use simple messages, especially if the messages promote both healthiness and taste. Even though schemes may not have an immediate effect on food choice, they may act together with other factors to enhance customer self‐efficacy, thereby increasing the likelihood of positive food choices being made. Conclusion: Most of the studies reviewed demonstrate some positive short‐term benefits from schemes. We are unable to conclude that these result in long‐term behaviour changes, because of a lack of follow‐up studies.

Smoking prevalence among people experiencing homelessness is high. This study explored the factors which influenced potential smoking abstinence among participants receiving an e-cigarette (EC) intervention within the Smoking Cessation Trial in Centres for Homelessness (SCeTCH) across Great Britian. Using the Capability Opportunity Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) model, hypothesised and emerging mediators were explored quantitatively via measures in baseline and follow-up questionnaires (n=239) and qualitatively via interviews with homelessness centre staff (n=16) and participants (n=31) who received an EC starter pack and 4-week e-liquid supply. We purposively sampled 8 centres for interviews, representing varied regions and participant vaping/smoking and sociodemographic status. Quantitative measures were analysed descriptively. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Data from the two approaches were mapped onto the COM-B for combined analysis and reporting. After receiving the intervention, participants demonstrated high capability to use EC and appreciation of EC for harm reduction. Some participants reported dissatisfaction with vaping. Opportunity for behaviour change was strengthened by perceived acceptability to vape and social support beyond the centre but hindered by a smoking culture and perceived lack of staff support. Motivation was enhanced by EC efficacy belief, pride from cutting down, and financial benefits of vaping, but negatively impacted by challenging personal circumstances. For people accessing homelessness support centres, smoking abstinence remains challenging. More intensive support and a variety of approaches to support smoking cessation, particularly those which address the psychosocial factors which hinder smoking abstinence, may be required. Future research should focus on how this can be achieved.

• Transport environment disruptions are rarely considered opportunities for promoting sustainable behaviour • A framework that classifies disruptions by their plannedness, scale, frequency, and duration may be a useful lens for policymaking • Recommendations emphasise the need for comprehensive strategies that leverage disruptions and bold political leadership to overcome entrenched car dependency Ambitious national targets for reducing transport emissions require effective policies that disturb entrenched unsustainable travel behaviours, in particular car use. One approach policymakers can adopt is to leverage transport environment disruptions as opportunities to destabilise habits and facilitate shifts in travel behaviour. A framework consisting of four key dimensions of disruptions (plannedness, scale, frequency, and duration) is presented. The current study investigates whether UK transport policymakers and practitioners currently recognise opportunities in transport environment disruptions across these dimensions, and the factors facilitating or preventing this approach. Through qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 23 transport practitioners from various UK transport organisations and key strategic documents, the findings reveal that while practitioners acknowledge the potential of disruptions in the transport environment to foster behavioural shifts to some extent, general approaches are limited in their conceptualisations of disruptions. Recommendations emphasise the need for comprehensive strategies that leverage disruptions driven by bold political leadership to overcome car dependency and achieve sustainable transport goals.

BackgroundPerformance enhancement (PE) is a natural and essential ingredient of competitive sport. Except for nutritional supplement contamination, accidental use of doping is highly unlikely. It requires deliberation, planning and commitment; and is influenced by a host of protective and risk factors.HypothesisIn the course of their career, athletes constantly set goals and make choices regarding the way these goals can be achieved. The cycle of choice – goal commitment – execution – feedback on goal attainment – goal evaluation/adjustment has numerous exit points, each providing an opportunity for behaviour change, which may or may not be related to the use of prohibited methods. The interplay between facilitating and inhibiting systemic and personality factors, constantly influenced by situational factors could result in an outcome vector of 'doping attitudes', which combines with subjective norms to influence intentions to choose prohibited PE methods. These influences also vary from one stage of athlete development to the next, making some athletes more vulnerable to engaging in doping practices than others, and more vulnerable at certain time periods – and not others.Testing the hypothesisModel-testing requires a series of carefully planned and coordinated studies. Correlational studies can establish relationships where the directionality is not-known or not important. Experimental studies with the manipulation of doping expectancies and risk factors can be used to demonstrate causality and evaluate potential intervention strategies. The final model can be tested via a behavioural simulation, with outcomes compared to those expected from literature precedence or used as a simulated computer game for empirical data collection.ImplicationsA hypothesized life-cycle model of PE identifies vulnerability factors across the stages of athlete development with the view of informing the design of anti-doping assessment and intervention. The model suggests that, instead of focusing on the actual engagement in prohibited PE practices, deterrence strategies are likely to be more effective if they target the influencing factors at the appropriate stage and identify groups of athletes and their respective career stages, which pose particular risks of engagement in doping practices. This enables a more effective intervention approach by targeting specific risk factors and expectancies.

Understanding the biosecurity monitoring and reporting intentions of livestock producers: Identifying opportunities for behaviour change