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Development of theory-based health messages: three-phase programme of formative research

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 21:56 authored by Tracey Epton, Paul Norman, Pete HarrisPete Harris, Thomas Webb, F Alexandra Snowsill, Paschal Sheeran
Online health behaviour interventions have great potential but their effectiveness may be hindered by a lack of formative and theoretical work. This paper describes the process of formative research to develop theoretically and empirically based health messages that are culturally relevant and can be used in an online intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours among new university students. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, a three-phase programme of formative research was conducted with prospective and current undergraduate students to identify (i) modal salient beliefs (the most commonly held beliefs) about fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, binge drinking and smoking, (ii) which beliefs predicted intentions/behaviour and (iii) reasons underlying each of the beliefs that could be targeted in health messages. Phase 1, conducted with 96 pre-university college students, elicited 56 beliefs about the behaviours. Phase 2, conducted with 3026 incoming university students, identified 32 of these beliefs that predicted intentions/behaviour. Phase 3, conducted with 627 current university students, elicited 102 reasons underlying the 32 beliefs to be used to construct health messages to bolster or challenge these beliefs. The three-phase programme of formative research provides researchers with an example of how to develop health messages with a strong theoretical- and empirical base for use in health behaviour change interventions.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Health Promotion International

ISSN

0957-4824

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

3

Volume

30

Page range

756-768

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-07-30

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2015-07-30

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-07-30

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