Using the question-behavior effect to promote disease prevention behaviors: two randomized controlled trials.

TLDR: The question-behavior effect represents a simple, cost-effective means to increase disease prevention behaviors among the general public and health professionals and were stronger for those with positive attitudes or intentions about the target behavior.

Abstract: Objective: To test the efficacy of interventions based on the question-behavior effect in promoting the adoption of disease prevention behaviors Design: In Study 1, adults from the general public were randomly allocated to complete a questionnaire about health checks (question-behavior effect condition) or not (control) and later received an invitation to attend for screening In Study 2, health care professionals were randomly allocated to complete a questionnaire about influenza vaccination or not and later had the opportunity to receive a vaccination Main Outcome Measures: We objectively assessed health check attendance (Study 1) and influenza vaccination (Study 2) Results: In Study 1, intentionto-treat analyses indicated that health check attendance was significantly higher in the question-behavior effect condition (683%) compared with the control condition (535%) In Study 2, intention-to-treat analyses indicated that influenza vaccination was significantly higher among participants in the questionbehavior effect condition (420%) compared with the control condition (363%), and this effect persisted after controlling for demographic variables Explanatory analyses indicated that the effects in both studies were attributable to completing rather than merely receiving the questionnaire and were stronger for those with positive attitudes or intentions about the target behavior Conclusion: The question-behavior effect represents a simple, cost-effective means to increase disease prevention behaviors among the general public and health professionals Implications for promoting health behaviors are discussed