Using ICT to overcome barriers to behaviour change and implement lifestyle interventions

This paper outlines my doctoral research to date as well as describing areas for future research. The aim of my PhD is to explore the potential role that information and communication technologies (ICT) may have in motivating behaviour change relating to lifestyle behaviours. In particular the focus of my research are behaviours associated with obesity amongst those considered to be at high risk (families of low SES). Barriers to adopting healthy lifestyles will be explored and motivational techniques with strong theoretical underpinnings will be developed. ICTs will be considered and tested as means to disseminate motivational interventions. The research has a strong focus on real world applications which should be seen as highly important when focussed on addressing problems such as obesity

Exploring the potential of food hubs to address food poverty in your area: core issues for community organisations to consider

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Local food hubs in deprived areas: an 'action pack' for community organisations

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Global Transcriptomic Profiling Using Small Volumes of Whole Blood: A Cost-Effective Method for Translational Genomic Biomarker Identification in Small Animals

Blood is an ideal tissue for the identification of novel genomic biomarkers for toxicity or efficacy. However, using blood for transcriptomic profiling presents significant technical challenges due to the transcriptomic changes induced by ex vivo handling and the interference of highly abundant globin mRNA. Most whole blood RNA stabilization and isolation methods also require significant volumes of blood, limiting their effective use in small animal species, such as rodents. To overcome these challenges, a QIAzol-based RNA stabilization and isolation method (QSI) was developed to isolate sufficient amounts of high quality total RNA from 25 to 500 μL of rat whole blood. The method was compared to the standard PAXgene Blood RNA System using blood collected from rats exposed to saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The QSI method yielded an average of 54 ng total RNA per μL of rat whole blood with an average RNA Integrity Number (RIN) of 9, a performance comparable with the standard PAXgene method. Total RNA samples were further processed using the NuGEN Ovation Whole Blood Solution system and cDNA was hybridized to Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 Arrays. The microarray QC parameters using RNA isolated with the QSI method were within the acceptable range for microarray analysis. The transcriptomic profiles were highly correlated with those using RNA isolated with the PAXgene method and were consistent with expected LPS-induced inflammatory responses. The present study demonstrated that the QSI method coupled with NuGEN Ovation Whole Blood Solution system is cost-effective and particularly suitable for transcriptomic profiling of minimal volumes of whole blood, typical of those obtained with small animal species

Increasing Acceptance of Online Health Information: Understanding Barriers, Tailoring Messages and Self-Affirmation

The majority of deaths worldwide can now be attributed to so called, diseases of lifestyle, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases are generally attributed to lifestyle behaviours, such as low fruit and vegetable consumption and lack of physical activity. Whilst historically NCDs have been known as diseases of the rich, current evidence shows that they are most prevalent in individuals with low socio-economic status. This thesis sets out to specifically address this issue by recruiting participants from a low SES population, in order to develop and test a web-based intervention addressing lifestyle behaviours. Initially the research identifies, and explores the barriers experienced by low SES individuals to leading healthy lifestyles, through interview data and further Q-sort analysis. The findings from these studies are used to tailor a health message, making it more pertinent to the target audience; the resulting message is incorporated into a website. The website is developed by understanding what constitutes a credible health related site in the eyes of the target audience. Initially the research identifies, and explores the barriers experienced by low SES individuals to leading healthy lifestyles, through interview data and further Q-sort analysis. The findings from these studies are used to tailor a health message, making it more pertinent to the target audience; the resulting message is incorporated into a website. The website is developed by understanding what constitutes a credible health related site in the eyes of the target audience. Self-affirmation theory (Steele, 1988) posits that reflecting on one’s positive attributes, reduces defensiveness to a potentially threatening health message. A recent study (Epton and Harris, 2008) suggests self-affirmation can lead to an actual change in the behaviour of individuals. This thesis replicates the work of Epton and Harris (2008) in an online environment, by demonstrating self-affirmed participants consumed more fruit and vegetable in the 7 days following exposure to the tailored website. These findings highlight the barriers experienced by low SES parents to adopting healthy lifestyles, and present a novel technique suitable for web-based interventions that has implications for a range of health related behaviours

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Abstract This paper outlines my doctoral research to date as well as describing areas for future research. The aim of my PhD is to explore the potential role that information and communication technologies (ICT) may have in motivating behaviour change relating to lifestyle behaviours. In particular the focus of my research are behaviours associated with obesity amongst those considered to be at high risk (families of low SES). Barriers to adopting healthy lifestyles will be explored and motivational techniques with strong theoretical underpinnings will be developed. ICTs will be considered and tested as means to disseminate motivational interventions. The research has a strong focus on real world applications which should be seen as highly important when focussed on addressing problems such as obesity

Intervening online: evaluating methods, assessing outcomes and signposting future directions

In this chapter we introduce some key ideas relating to the evaluation of behaviour change interventions. We discuss the notion of measurement and consider who benefits from behaviour change interventions, how this is assessed and reflect on the longevity of the effect. These issues are situated within the context of two case studies. The case studies provide a basis for discussing good practice, highlighting ongoing evaluation issues and reflecting on the role of technology. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future directions in evaluation literature