Showing papers by "Marc Suhrcke published in 2013"
TL;DR: Public acceptability of government interventions to change behaviour is greatest for the least intrusive interventions, which are often the least effective, and for interventions targeting the behaviour of others, rather than the respondent him or herself.
Abstract: Governments can intervene to change health-related behaviours using various measures but are sensitive to public attitudes towards such interventions. This review describes public attitudes towards a range of policy interventions aimed at changing tobacco and alcohol use, diet, and physical activity, and the extent to which these attitudes vary with characteristics of (a) the targeted behaviour (b) the intervention and (c) the respondents. We searched electronic databases and conducted a narrative synthesis of empirical studies that reported public attitudes in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand towards interventions relating to tobacco, alcohol, diet and physical activity. Two hundred studies met the inclusion criteria. Over half the studies (105/200, 53%) were conducted in North America, with the most common interventions relating to tobacco control (110/200, 55%), followed by alcohol (42/200, 21%), diet-related interventions (18/200, 9%), interventions targeting both diet and physical activity (18/200, 9%), and physical activity alone (3/200, 2%). Most studies used survey-based methods (160/200, 80%), and only ten used experimental designs. Acceptability varied as a function of: (a) the targeted behaviour, with more support observed for smoking-related interventions; (b) the type of intervention, with less intrusive interventions, those already implemented, and those targeting children and young people attracting most support; and (c) the characteristics of respondents, with support being highest in those not engaging in the targeted behaviour, and with women and older respondents being more likely to endorse more restrictive measures. Public acceptability of government interventions to change behaviour is greatest for the least intrusive interventions, which are often the least effective, and for interventions targeting the behaviour of others, rather than the respondent him or herself. Experimental studies are needed to assess how the presentation of the problem and the benefits of intervention might increase acceptability for those interventions which are more effective but currently less acceptable.
390 citations
TL;DR: An evidence-based definition and typology of choice architecture interventions that have been implemented within small-scale micro-environments and evaluated for their effects on four key sets of health behaviours are proposed.
Abstract: The idea that behaviour can be influenced at population level by altering the environments within which people make choices (choice architecture) has gained traction in policy circles. However, empirical evidence to support this idea is limited, especially its application to changing health behaviour. We propose an evidence-based definition and typology of choice architecture interventions that have been implemented within small-scale micro-environments and evaluated for their effects on four key sets of health behaviours: diet, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use. We argue that the limitations of the evidence base are due not simply to an absence of evidence, but also to a prior lack of definitional and conceptual clarity concerning applications of choice architecture to public health intervention. This has hampered the potential for systematic assessment of existing evidence. By seeking to address this issue, we demonstrate how our definition and typology have enabled systematic identification and preliminary mapping of a large body of available evidence for the effects of choice architecture interventions. We discuss key implications for further primary research, evidence synthesis and conceptual development to support the design and evaluation of such interventions. This conceptual groundwork provides a foundation for future research to investigate the effectiveness of choice architecture interventions within micro-environments for changing health behaviour. The approach we used may also serve as a template for mapping other under-explored fields of enquiry.
253 citations
TL;DR: The observed pattern of purchasing across SES groups contributes to the explanation of observed health differences between groups and highlights targets for interventions to reduce health inequalities.
129 citations
01 Jan 2013
71 citations
TL;DR: Obesity in British over-50s was more likely in study participants who reported greater financial hardship, even after education, social class and home ownership were taken into account.
Abstract: Background: Socioeconomic status is strongly associated with obesity. Current economic circumstances are also independently associated with self-reported weight status in Finnish civil servants. We aimed to examine three types of financial hardship in relation to measured general and central obesity in a general population of older adults, while considering conventional socioeconomic indicators. Methods: Data from 10,137 participants (≥50 years) in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort who responded to a postal Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire (1996–2000) and attended a clinical assessment (1998–2002). Multivariable logistic regression models assessed likelihood of general obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 )a nd central obesity (women: ≥88 cm; men: ≥102 cm) calculated from measured anthropometrics. Results: Obesity prevalence was consistently patterned by standard socioeconomic indicators, with over-50s in the lowest social class being twice as likely to be obese than those in the highest class (women OR 2.10 [CI95: 1.41— 3.13]; men OR 2.36 [1.44—3.87]). After adjustment for socioeconomic status, reporting having less than enough money for one’ sn eeds(compared to more than enough) was associated with obesity in women (OR 2.04 [1.54—2.69]) and men (OR 1.83 [1.34—2.49]). Similar associations were demonstrated between obesity and always or often not having enough money for food/clothing (women OR 1.40 [1.03—1.90]; men OR 1.81 [1.28—2.56]), compared to reporting this never occurred. The strongest independent associations were seen for obesity and reported greatest level of difficulty paying bills (women OR 2.20 [1.37—3.55]; men 2.40 [1.38—4.17]), compared to having no difficulties. Findings for central obesity were slightly higher in women and lower in men. Conclusions: Obesity in British over-50s was more likely in study participants who reported greater financial hardship, even after education, social class and home ownership were taken into account. Public health policies need to consider the hitherto neglected role of financial hardship in older people, especially difficulty paying bills, as part of strategies to prevent or reduce obesity.
59 citations
TL;DR: The evidence-based case for using economic instruments to promote dietary and physical activity behaviour change may be less compelling than some proponents have claimed and future research should include measurement of people's actual behavioural responses using study designs capable of generating reliable causal inferences regarding intervention effects.
Abstract: Unhealthy diet and low levels of physical activity are common behavioural factors in the aetiology of many non-communicable diseases. Recent years have witnessed an upsurge of policy and research interest in the use of taxes and other economic instruments to improve population health.
42 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2013TL;DR: Boyes's FUNDAMENTALS OF ECONOMICS, Sixth Edition as discussed by the authors was designed for the one-term introductory economics course for non-majors and has been thoroughly updated to reflect the current economic condition in the United States and the world and reflects recent events in the Obama administration, especially in regard to healthcare.
Abstract: Designed for the one-term introductory economics course for non-majors, Boyes's FUNDAMENTALS OF ECONOMICS, Sixth Edition, engages students with business decisions of actual, headline-making companies and discusses the economic policies of today's world leaders. The Sixth Edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the current economic condition in the United States and the world and reflects recent events in the Obama administration, especially in regard to healthcare. The supportive pedagogical framework that guides students through each chapter includes Fundamental Questions, which open and organize the chapter by focusing on three to six key issues, and which then reappear both at point of relevance in the margins and in the end-of-chapter Summary sections; Now You Try It checkpoint questions that quiz students on important concepts, with answers provided at the back of the book; Recaps at the end of each major section to break material into manageable segments; and end-of-chapter exercises that serve as self-checks for students and as homework assignment options for instructors. A built-in study guide follows each chapter, and provides a more intensive review opportunity for students, with answers provided in an appendix. Most chapters contain four pages of study material consisting of key term match-ups, multiple-choice quizzes, and practice questions and problems. A final section of application problems gives students an opportunity to analyze and synthesize what they have learned. Available with InfoTrac Student Collections http://gocengage.com/infotrac. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.
26 citations
01 Apr 2013
TL;DR: This work presents a novel, scalable and scalable approaches that allow for real-time measurement of the response of the immune system to Shake-LaSalle's disease.
Abstract: A PLoS One article based on this work is currently available from: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0075070
22 citations
University of London1, British Heart Foundation2, French Institute of Health and Medical Research3, Masaryk University4, Hacettepe University5, Metropolitan University College6, University College London7, University of East Anglia8, University of Zurich9, Karolinska Institutet10, World Health Organization11
TL;DR: The EURO-PREVOB Community Questionnaire was found to be a reliable and practical observational tool for measuring differences in community-level data on environmental factors that can impact on dietary intake and physical activity.
18 citations
TL;DR: It is found that increased alcohol consumption decreases well-being and that ignoring endogeneity leads to underestimation of this effect, adding a further and previously under-appreciated dimension to the expected benefits that could be achieved with more effective alcohol policy in this region.
9 citations
TL;DR: The role played by political factors in shaping the BMI distribution is studied and it is shown that effective political competition reduces both under-weight and obesity.
Abstract: We construct a rich dataset covering 47 developing countries over the years 1990–2007, combining several micro and macro level data sources to explore the link between political factors and body mass index (BMI). We implement a heteroskedastic generalized ordered logit model allowing for different covariate effects across the BMI distribution and accounting for the unequal BMI dispersion by geographical area. We find that systems with democratic qualities are more likely to reduce under-weight, but increase overweight/obesity, whereas effective political competition does entail double-benefits in the form of reducing both under-weight and obesity. Our results are robust to the introduction of country fixed effects.