Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is prevalent in the Canadian Forces. Physiotherapists use behavioural change techniques (BCT) to challenge maladaptive cognitions and behaviours in the treatment of CNSLBP. The aim of this study was to determine the range and type of BCT used in the “Back to Fitness” class at CFB Halifax. A nomenclature integrating a psychology BCT checklist and relevant physiotherapy literature was used to create a physiotherapist BCT checklist tool that was piloted in a field study. A wide range (n=24) and type (cognitive, behavioural and motivational) of BCT were identified in three settings (lecture, two exercise sessions). The nomenclature produced in this first examination of BCT in physiotherapy practice, will be useful for future research and training. This project revealed an overlap between psychology and physiotherapy that could lead to improved interprofessional communication and earlier access to behaviour change interventions for patients with CNSLBP.

Research on interventions aimed to promote energy savings has shown support for direct feedback using in-home displays (IHDs) to reduce energy consumption. These displays are electronic devices that provide real-time energy information and are emerging as an effective tool to communicate with people about their energy consumption. How feedback is presented to people and how they understand the meaning of such feedback largely depends on the design of the display, yet there are relatively few studies that investigate the way in which the display can best be designed to present energy information and motivate energy-saving behaviour. Further, even though there is a wide range of variations in the visual presentation of feedback, there is a lack of focus on the process of optimising the IHD design. This thesis aims to address the need for designing IHDs at the display component level, by examining three types of display design (numerical displays, analogue displays using speedometer dials, and ambient displays using emotional faces) in both laboratory-based computer-simulated experiments and field-based experiments: participants’ abilities to detect changes in energy information shown on the computer-simulated displays were measured by means of accuracy rate and response time, and their subjective preferences for display types were assessed against experimental data; live energy data were displayed using the three design types in a student residence at the University of Bath to see how they would influence energy-use behaviour. Results from the laboratory experiments demonstrated that both accuracy rate and response time for seeing changes in the information displayed were strongly associated with the type of display design. Participants preferred numerical display and were better at detecting changes in information with this display than with the other two. Conversely, the student residence experiments showed that when participants’ attention was divided in a household setting, there was no difference in energy consumption among experimental groups who received information from any of the three display types. However, these experimental groups used significantly less energy compared with control groups, who had no displays installed. It was concluded that 1) the mere presence of a display device could influence people’s behaviour, regardless of the type of display design, people’s preferences or the level of user engagement with the display, although there was a strong indication that the ambient design worked better than the other two designs at an arbitrary statistical significance level of 0.95, and 2) subjective preferences and computer-simulated studies are poor guides to the actual performance of IHDs in real-world settings. This work helps establish how IHDs can be designed and the influence that they may have on people’s energy-consumption behaviour. It also contributes to the literature of exploring people’s perceptibility of energy information. The method used is replicable and can be applied in similar studies on energy display design. Lastly, the improved understanding gained through this work will facilitate the development of effective smart meter display technology that may help people adopt conscious energy behaviour in the long term.

This thesis outlines the notion of '<i>Disruptive Futuring'</i> as a new design methodology to addressing climate change. It is founded on making a connection between our behaviour as individuals and the environment. Since the publishing of 'Our Common Future' (Brundtland Commission.1987) major bodies have been publicly documenting the damage that climate change is having on the planet. This has been followed by the creation of United Nations Climate Change Conference international incentives including the Kyoto Protocol and national attempts including government departments and NGO projects. All have been directed to address the issue of climate change but have seen minimal success. Psychology plays a significant role in understanding and promoting human behavioural change and how we prioritise particular decisions or actions. However, until recently it has carried less weight in a design approach to solving behavioural problems in climate change. The primary issue is that climate change isn't a normal behavioural problem, and numerous psychologists including Stoknes (2015) highlight its incompatibility with innate human motivation. Newly explored areas within psychology and behavioural economics expose some of the reasons we may react to climate change with lower importance then other less damaging problems. <i>Disruptive Futuring</i> provides a new methodology based on thinkers such as Fogg (2002), Gilbert (2015), Dubner and Levitt. (2009), Marshall(2014), Pink(2009) and Stoknes (2015) to improve quantitative and qualitative adoption of designed interventions aimed at changing behaviours in order to accelerate human actions affecting climate change. This thesis takes a research through design approach that incorporates reflective practice. The research builds upon a literature review evaluating our connection with climate change, resulting in combining behavioural psychology with mapping and lens methods. <i>Disruptive Futuring</i> is presented as anew design methodology that develops new types of behavioural change using what Thaler & Sunstein (2009) describe as "Nudge" as a process to reroute people to new actions and flows in their everyday lives. These behavioural changes are achieved through framing climate change in ways humans are motivated by. Three practice-based projects pilot the methodology of <i>Disruptive Futuring</i> by exploring the topics of energy, water and food. These areas were selected because of their significance to our physiological requirements as highlighted by Maslow (1943). The projects result in three systems-based interventions aimed at changing behaviours that negatively impact climate change. It is observed through reflection that this methodology provides a context for designers to work in an oblique way; it has a preference to influence thinking and designing in systems; and that complex psychological concepts can be applied through designed interventions that reduce the conflict between our psychological composition and the human perception of climate change. This research explores the capability and capacity for <i>Disruptive Futuring </i>to bring climate change psychology into a unified way for designers to use during the conception and research stages of designing interventions, technology or services that target behavioural change, decisions making and create new ways of living to have less impact on climate change.

Protective coloration such as aposematism and crypsis occurs in many insects but only a few species alter their defensive strategy during the same instar. We hypothesize the adult shield bug Graphosoma lineatum with an alternating black and non-melanised longitudinal striation exhibit such a change in defensive coloration. In Sweden, the non-melanised stripes of the pre-hibernation G. lineatum are pale brown and cryptic but they change during hibernation to red and aposematic. We have tested the adaptive functions of coloration of the two G. lineatum forms against bird predators. In Paper I we used great tits as predators and measured detection time of the two forms against a background of dry grass and plants, simulating late-summer conditions. We found that the birds took longer time to find the pale than the red form. Thus, the pale form of G. lineatum is more cryptic in a dry environment than the red form. In Paper II and III we used naïve predators and measured attack rate/latency on red and pale adults and fifth-instar larvae (black and brown) to investigate avoidance and generalisation between the stages. In Paper II domestic chicks initially found the red form most intimidating, but both adult forms are more intimidating than the larva. Moreover, there was a broad generalisation among forms. In Paper III naïve great tits did not find the red form significantly more aversive than the pale adult. Neither the chicks nor the tits showed any difference in the speed of avoidance learning between the two adult colour forms. In Paper IV the shieldbugs themselves were the main focus as we compared activity levels in the different colour forms and found that G. lineatum alters behaviour in accordance to their protective strategy. Thus they were significantly less active during the cryptic phase. Taken together, these experiments suggest that the pale brown adult invests in a cryptic strategy at the cost of reduced protection from aposematism, whereas the red adult benefits from aposematism at the cost of reduced camouflage. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Accepted.

The purpose of this study is to qualitatively explore how physical activity engagement is initiated and maintained in adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD). The rising number of aging ACHD patients means they could need more healthcare resources for lifelong treatments to maintain their health. One cost-efficient and natural way to maintain the health of ACHD patients is through physical activity participation. Unfortunately, though, ACHD patients tend to be sedentary, and research has yet to adequately explore the factors influencing physical activity behaviour within this population. To gain a better understanding on this topic, this study combines the transtheoretical model and social ecological model to uncover factors influencing physical activity behaviour in ACHD patients who are at different levels of motivation. This study utilizes a qualitative research design: over six months, 27 participants took part in three individual semi-structured interviews for a total of 78 interviews (three participants did not complete all three interviews). The study revealed that several factors influenced physical activity behaviour in ACHD patients at different stages of motivation. In addition, findings on the characteristics of participants in each stage, meanings of physical activity and strategies for promoting physical activity for ACHD patients are also presented, as well as practical findings (i.e., physical activity program for ACHD patients). This thesis is important for healthcare professionals as it could facilitate the development of stage-specific interventions designed to increase physical activity behaviour in ACHD patients.

An unhealthy diet and insufficient physical activity lead to global health risks, where 70% of all deaths globally can be linked to non-communicable diseases. To change these types of behaviours, there are different methods, one of which is the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) which can serve as a guide to which methods can be used to achieve a behaviour change. The purpose of this study is to investigate how health applications can motivate users to a long-term health improvement. What are the important design factors in health applications for users, to be motivated to a long-term health improvement?   To fulfil the purpose, a study was conducted with a qualitative approach inspired by Design Science. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted and data generated were analysed using thematic analysis.   The study showed that a number of the recommended Behavioural Change Techniques (BCTs) that could be found in BCW are consistent with respondents' personal experiences and opinions on desirable functions for achieving a healthier lifestyle. The results of this study indicate that important design factors in a health application are easily used functions that allow a user to find reliable information when needed, track their goals and evaluate these in relation to their previous achievements to continue to be motivated for  a long-term change. / En ohälsosam diet och otillräcklig fysisk rörelse leder till globala hälsorisker, där 70% av alla dödsfall globalt kan kopplas till icke smittsamma sjukdomar. För att förändra dessa typer av beteenden finns det olika metoder, där en av dem är Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) som kan fungera som en fingervisning om vilka metoder som kan användas för att uppnå en beteendeförändring. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur hälsoapplikationer kan motivera användare till en långvarig hälsoförbättring. Vad upplever användare är viktiga designfaktorer i hälsoapplikationer, för att motiveras till en långvarig hälsoförbättring?    För att uppfylla syftet har en studien genomförts med en kvalitativ ansats inspirerad av Design Science. För datainsamling har semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts och den data som alstrats har analyserats med hjälp av tematisk analys.    Studien visade att ett antal av de rekommenderade Behavioural Change Techniques (BCTs) som kunde återfinnas i BCW stämmer överens med respondenternas personliga erfarenheter och åsikter om önskvärda funktioner för att nå en hälsosammare livsstil. Resultatet av denna studie pekar på att viktiga designfaktorer i en hälsoapplikation är smidiga funktioner som ger en användare möjlighet att finna tillförlitlig information vid behov, spåra sina mål och utvärdera dessa i relation till sina tidigare prestationer för att fortsatt motiveras att genomföra en långvarig förändring.

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS programmes at the workplace. The case study used both quantitative and qualitative methods (Triangulation) to determine the level of awareness and evaluate the impact of the programmes implemented at the workplace. The data was collected using a pilot tested structured questionnaire which was distributed to a purposive sample (n=60), involving all the departments at the company. Semi structured interviews involving purposively identified participants (n = 3) were conducted to clarify and explain issues in relation to questionnaire responses. The data from the structured questionnaire was analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).The findings revealed that the organization had achieved 90% awareness and 75% positive impact. The study also revealed that social background, individual values and religion influenced sexual behaviour, hence the recommendation for more preventive oriented programmes to influence positive behavioural change amongst employees / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Vindelns kommun har i samarbete med Försäkringskassan och samordningsförbundet Umeåregionen genomfört en pilotinsats för att förebygga eller förhindra sjukskrivningar som orsakas av ohälsosam upplevd stress. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om deltagare har kunnat förändra eller reflekterat över sin livssituation efter kurs, samt vad i insatsen som påverkat detta. Sex deltagare har utfört och avslutat kursen. För att undersöka detta har semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med samtliga deltagare och databearbetning har skett genom tematisk analys. Slutsatserna av resultatet är att deltagarna har genomgått förändring, med en personlig utveckling och ökad självinsikt. Långsiktig förändring inte kan fastställas då intervjuerna skedde i nära anslutning till avslutad kurs. Vidare kan inte förebyggande eller förhindrande av sjukskrivning fastställas, vilket däremot kan mätas i framtida undersökning för att avgöra hur effektiv insatsen har varit. Denna uppsats kan vidare förklara hur och varför interventioner kan fungera, vilket kan bidra till att skapa framgångsrika framtida interventioner. / Vindeln municipality in cooperation with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and samordningsförbundet Umeåregionen have conducted a pilot programme to prevent sick leave due to perceived unhealthy stress. The aim of this thesis is to analyse if the participants have been able to change or reflect over their own life situation after the programme, and what aspect of the programme have influenced this. In total six participants partook and finished the programme. To collect data semi-structured interviews were performed with all the participants and to further conduct a thematic analysis. The thesis concludes that all participants have gone through a behavioural change, with a personal development and increased self-awareness. Long term effects of the programme cannot be proven within this thesis due to the short time period between the finished programme and the interview. Further can this thesis neither say anything regarding preventing sick leave, which can be evaluated in the future to determine the success of the programme. On another note what this thesis have contributed with is an explanation regarding how and why intervention programmes could be successful.

This study provides a critical comparison of the leading strategies to mitigate illegal wildlife trade across Southeast Asia, designated in the paper as Enforcement and Awareness initiatives. The purpose of this comparison is to determine the differences and similarities of those initiatives regarding their respective approaches, effectiveness to tackle illegal wildlife trade and influential parameters. In the first part, the paper examines Enforcement and Awareness initiatives based on the initiatives’ underlying theories, literature and case studies. It reveals the presence of common characteristics summarised under four thematic points: (1) the complexity, (2) velocity, (3) adaptability and (4) scope of an initiative. In a second stage, the study provides an analysis of the empirical findings collected according to the thematic area previously presented. Evidence for this study was obtained from interviews and observations made in the context of an internship. Thanks to the thematic analysis, the paper approves the presence of specificities and similarities between Enforcement and Awareness initiatives and suggests the consideration of two parameters essential for the success of the initiatives: (1) the governmental authorities’ commitment to participate in the conduct of Enforcement or Awareness-related activities and (2) the involvement of non-governmental actors ensuring an efficient conduct.

Concern remains regarding the efficacy of drink driving countermeasures to produce lasting change for repeat offenders, as a wide array of countermeasures have been developed that demonstrate varying levels of success in reducing re-offence rates. This thesis proposes that the collection and examination of repeat offenders' self-reported perceptions, experiences and behavioural changes that result from completing court-ordered interventions can provide valuable contributions to the development of effective sentencing strategies. As a result, the program of research implemented a mixed-method design to investigate the self-reported impact of legal sanctions, a drink driving rehabilitation program, and alcohol ignition interlocks on key outcome measures for a group of recidivist drink drivers.----- Study One incorporated a cross-sectional design to examine the deterrent effect of traditional legal sanctions (e.g., fines and licence disqualification periods), non-legal sanctions, alcohol consumption, recent offending behaviour(s), and the actual severity of sanctions on perceptual deterrence and intentions to re-offend. The study involved face-to-face and telephone interviews with 166 repeat offenders. The analysis indicated that participants perceived legal sanctions to be severe, but not entirely certain nor swift.----- In Study One, self-reported recent drink driving behaviours and alcohol consumption levels were identified as predictors of future intentions to drink and drive. The results suggest that habitual behaviours are difficult to change, and heavy alcohol consumption levels increase the probability of re-offending. At a bivariate level, three non-legal sanctions were negatively associated with intentions to re-offend but were not predictors of future intentions to drink and drive in the model. In addition, a relationship was not evident between: (a) the size of the penalties and perceptions of sanction severity or future intentions to drink and drive, and (b) the number of previous convictions and self-reported deterrence. The findings of the study confirm the popular assumption that some repeat offenders are impervious to the threat and application of legal sanctions.----- Study Two examined the stages of change and self-efficacy levels of 132 repeat offenders - who were all involved in Study One - while they completed an 11 week drink driving rehabilitation program. A repeated measures design was implemented to focus on the impact of the intervention on a number of salient program outcomes such as participants' motivations and self-efficacy levels to control and change their drinking and drink driving behaviour(s). Prior to program commencement, the majority of participants were motivated to change their drinking driving, but not their drinking. The sample also reported high self-efficacy levels to control the two behaviours, but did not have high expectations of the effectiveness of the program.----- Upon completion of the program, significant increases were evident in motivations to change drinking and drink driving behaviours, and a large percentage of participants reported a positive appraisal of the effectiveness of the intervention. Program completion also resulted in a reduction in self-reported alcohol consumption levels, yet the majority of the sample continued to consume harmful levels of alcohol. Self-efficacy levels remained high, although a notable finding was that participants reported higher levels of control over their drinking rather than drink driving behaviours. In general, Study Two provided a positive perspective of the capacity of a drink driving rehabilitation program to produce change for a group of repeat offenders.----- Study Two extended a small body of research and examined the effects that mandated program enrolment has on motivations to change, as well as expectations and appraisals of program effectiveness. Contrary to predictions, mandated participants did not report lower levels of motivation to change drinking and drink driving compared to voluntary attendees, but did indicate lower expectations of the effectiveness of the program, as well as being willing to engage in the program. Furthermore upon program completion, mandated participants also reported lower appraisals of the effectiveness of the program, but this factor was not associated with intentions to re-offend or non-program completion. Rather, not successfully completing the program appeared linked with being unwilling to change drinking behaviours.----- Study Three involved a longitudinal case-study design that utilised both quantitative and qualitative data to conduct one of the first examinations of the impact of alcohol ignition interlocks on a group of recidivist drink drivers from a users' perspective. The study investigated 12 participants' self-reported perceptions and experiences of using an interlock and the effect that the device had on key program outcomes such as drinking levels, operational performance, circumvention attempts and general beliefs regarding the effectiveness of the device in comparison to traditional legal sanctions.----- Participants reported positive appraisals regarding the effectiveness of the device as qualitative themes emerged concerning the educational and practical benefits of interlocks. However, closer examination of individual interlock performances revealed each participant had attempted to start their vehicle after consuming alcohol, and a smaller sample of three drivers were regularly attempting to start their vehicle after drinking. The combination and analysis of self-reported and downloaded interlock data revealed four main themes: (a) initial operational difficulties, (b) a general unwillingness to reduce alcohol consumption levels, (c) an unwillingness to acknowledge/recognise that interlock breath violations resulted from drinking, and (d) an overall decline in the frequency of interlock breath violations over the interlock installation period. Similar to Study Two, a notable finding was that half the sample was still consuming harmful levels of alcohol upon program completion.----- Taken together, the results of the program of research highlight that repeat offenders' entrenched behaviours, such as drinking and drink driving, are resistant to change and that multi-modal interventions are required if the drinking and driving sequence is to be broken for this population. The findings have direct implications for the sentencing and management of repeat offenders and the development of countermeasures that attempt to produce long-term behavioural change.