Research
Research to date:
Adolescent Food Impulsivity
Behavioural Science & Healthcare team
UCL Institute of Epidemiology
Introduction: 41% of children aged 10-11 are living with overweight/obesity in England. Behavioural Susceptibility Theory (BST) proposes that individuals who inherit a more avid appetite or lower sensitivity to satiety (fullness) are more likely to overeat in response to the food environment. Strong self-regulation over what and how much one eats is essential for maintaining a healthy bodyweight in an obesogenic food environment.
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Aim: The aim of this research is to explore the common genetic architecture underlying food impulsivity, in children from the Gemini Twin Birth Cohort.
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Methods: Multivariate twin model will be used to explore the common genetic architecture underlying food impulsivity in the twins, based on their responses to a food specific version of the Go/No-Go task (an experimental psychology task).
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Results: Data analysis is still ongoing. This study will be the first to use a food-specific version of the Go/No-Go to measure the heritability of food impulsivity.
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Responsibilities: Conceptualization (formulating the research question), Methodology (developing our data analysis plan), Data Curation (cleaning Go/No-Go task data for analysis), Statistical analysis (conducting genetic analysis on outcome variables using the classical twin method), Investigation (identifying differences in outcome variables between monozygotic and dizygotic twins), Visualization (presenting the findings), Writing - original draft (acting as the lead / corresponding author for the paper, conducting the literature review for the introduction, identifying high impact journals to submit to), Writing - review & editing (responding to peer review comments, revising the manuscript, final submission). Software (data cleaning: R / R Studio, Microsoft Excel, SPSS, Data analysis: R / R Studio, SPSS).
DAFNEplus
UCL Centre for Behaviour Change
Department of clinical, educational and health psychology
Introduction: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) management is behaviourally complex, involving routine, reactive, and reflective behaviours. As such, interventions aimed at supporting behaviour change are a critical component of diabetes care. The DAFNEplus intervention is an enhanced version of the original DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) intervention, currently being trialled in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). DAFNEplus exemplifies a complex behaviour change intervention, which increases the potential variability in its delivery. Thus, it is necessary to assess fidelity of delivery of the DAFNEplus intervention, to ensure accurate interpretation of trial outcomes.
Aim: To explore the fidelity of delivery of the DAFNEplus intervention in the randomised controlled trial and any issues related to loss of fidelity, using the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy (BCTT).
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Methods: A mixed-methods fidelity study was conducted which analysed primary research in the form of self-reported facilitator checklists, containing quantitative fidelity measures and qualitative free text responses. Data were collected in the intervention and control arm and analysed using content and thematic analysis.
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Results: Data analysis is still ongoing. This study will have implications for future statistical analyses within the trial, interpreting trial outcomes and amending the DAFNEplus intervention.
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Responsibilities: Conceptualization (formulating the research question(s) that we seek to answer with the data), Methodology (developing our data analysis plan), Formal analysis (assessing fidelity of delivery of the DAFNEplus intervention), Data Curation (cleaning and imputing physical checklist data into Microsoft Excel for data analysis), Investigation (analysing self-report checklists filled out by healthcare professionals and coding recordings of healthcare professionals delivering the program), Validation (acting as the primary coder to assess reliability of the coding along with a second coder), Visualization (presenting the findings), Writing - original draft (acting as the lead/ corresponding author for the paper, conducting the literature review for the introduction, identifying high impact journals to submit to), Writing - review & editing (responding to peer review comments, revising the manuscript, final submission). Software (coding data in Nvivo 2020).
CUUSH
UCL Centre for Behaviour Change
Department of clinical, educational and health psychology
Introduction: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, UK local authorities increased emergency active travel interventions (i.e., the Streetspace Schemes) to encourage social distancing and active transport. However, residents responded negatively to the schemes, and they were at risk of being removed, which would have been detrimental for health and sustainability.
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Aim: The aim of this research was to explore what aspects of the schemes represent barriers or enablers to walking and cycling during the pandemic.
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Methods: Focusing on two Inner London boroughs, we conducted 21 semi-structured stakeholder interviews and sampled 885 public comments about Streetspace schemes. We triangulated the data in a thematic analysis to identify barriers and enablers, which were categorised using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) model.
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Results: Opportunity and motivation factors were reflected in the barriers (accessibility and integration of the schemes; controversy, dissatisfaction, and doubt) and enablers (new routes and spaces; sustainability and health beliefs) and mixed themes (changes to traffic and appeal of the area; feelings of safety). Capability was not reflected in the main themes.
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Responsibilities: Administration (developed consent form and participant information sheet), Methodology (helped develop our data analysis plan), Resources (designed theory informed interview guides, designed one-pagers about the schemes for interview participants), Investigation (independently conducted ten 1-hour long interviews), Data Curation (cleaned transcripts and input them for data analysis), Formal analysis (conducted an inductive thematic analysis on the interview transcripts to identify barriers and enablers to our target behaviour of using the schemes, followed by a deductive thematic analysis using the COM-B framework and Theoretical Domains Framework), Validation (acted as a primary and secondary coder assess reliability of the coding), Visualization (created results tables), Writing - original draft (contributed to each section of the original manuscript as the third author out of four), Writing - review & editing (helped respond to reviewer comments, helped revise the manuscript, helped with final submission). Software (coded data in Nvivo 2020).
MSc Dissertation
UCL Centre for Behaviour Change
Department of clinical, educational and health psychology
Introduction: General Practitioners (GP) are advised to opportunistically refer patients with overweight or obesity to a tier 2 weight management program, but few patients sign up after receiving the referral. Signing up to a weight management program is a behaviour, as such, behaviour change interventions are needed to increase sign ups. However, no research has explored the influences on signing up after an opportunistic referral specifically.
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Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the influences (i.e., barriers and enablers) on signing up to a tier 2 weight management service after receiving an opportunistic referral from a GP, using a theoretical framework to inform intervention development.
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Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eighteen residents from the London borough of Hounslow who were eligible for the service. Interview guides were informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Data were analysed inductively using Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Coding Reliability to identify influences on signing up, before being deductively coded to the TDF and grouped into themes.
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Results: Eight theoretical domains were identified as influences on signing up. Fifteen sub-themes were developed and categorised as either a barrier (5), enabler (3) or mixed (7) influence. Beliefs about Consequences was the most frequently reported influence on signing up. Beliefs that were expressed the most often include how effective the program would be, whether the program is needed to lose weight and whether the program would be compatible with their lifestyle. Leveraging Social Influences and changing patient’s Knowledge could address these beliefs and provide a potential route for behaviour change.
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Responsibilities: Conceptualization (formulating the research question), Methodology (developing our data analysis plan), Data Curation (cleaning survey data), Formal analysis (analysing survey responses and conducting a thematic analysis on interview transcripts), Investigation (identifying barriers and enablers to joining a weight management program), Visualization (presenting the findings), Writing - original draft (acting as the lead / corresponding author for the paper, conducting the literature review for the introduction, identifying high impact journals to submit to), Writing - review & editing (responding to peer review comments, revising the manuscript, final submission) and communicating findings with senior stakeholders in public policy. Software (Data cleaning: Excel, Data analysis: Nvivo 2020).
PANDA
UCL Centre for Behaviour Change
Department of clinical, educational and health psychology
Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) during pregnancy has severe adverse outcomes including maternal mortality, haemorrhaging and stillbirth. When taken as recommended, oral iron supplements are effective at treating IDA, however, sub-optimal adherence has been reported. Iron supplements also have the potential to be used for the prevention of IDA. Preventing IDA could be a significant opportunity to improve maternal and infant outcomes. Currently, little is known about what factors might influence women to take prophylactic oral iron to prevent IDA.
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Aim: The aim of this research was to explore the drivers of uptake and adherence to prophylactic oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.
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Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 pregnant women (13 with anaemia, 14 without anaemia) across two NHS sites in the UK. Topic guides informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) were developed, exploring individual, socio-cultural, and environmental influences on uptake and adherence to iron.
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Results: A total of 84 themes spanning across 14 TDF domains were identified. Factors influencing the decision to start taking iron included: limited understanding about anaemia (Knowledge), healthcare professionals or peers raising the issue of anaemia (Social influences) and competing health priorities during pregnancy (Goals). Factors influencing adherence to iron included: forgetting to take supplements (Memory, attention and decision processes), use of reminder strategies to help take supplements (Behavioural regulation), confidence to take supplements as recommended (Beliefs about capabilities), and women identifying as responsible for baby’s health (Social/Professional role and identity).
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Responsibilities: Data Curation (cleaned interview transcripts and input them for data analysis), Formal analysis (conducted a framework analysis on 24 interview transcripts to identify barriers and enablers to medication adherence), Validation (acted as a primary and secondary coder assess reliability of the coding), Visualization (creating results tables), Writing - original draft (contributing to each section of the original manuscript as the second author out of four), Writing - review & editing (will help to respond to reviewer comments and revise the manuscript). Software (coded data in Nvivo 2020).
