NIHR Policy Research Unit in Behavioural and Social Sciences
Using evidence, theory and methods from behavioural and social sciences to inform government policy on health, preventing ill-health and health systems
Key facts
Full title: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Behavioural and Social Sciences
Funder: National Institute of Health Research
Total amount awarded: £5,499,989.69
Start date: 2024 (established initially in 2019, re-funded in 2024)
Duration: 5 years
Research Partners: Hosted by Newcastle University, in collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University College London, University of Bedfordshire, University of Warwick
CBC researchers: Professor Angel Chater (lead, Professor Susan Michie 2019-2022), Dr Fabiana Lorencatto, Dr Vivi Antonopoulou, Dr Alison McKinlay
Informing government policy
We aim to support policy makers on promoting health, preventing ill-health and enhancing health systems.
Applying behavioural and social science evidence, theory and methods
Objectives of our PRU are to:
- increase and raise awareness of behavioural and social sciences utilisation in policy development, evaluation and implementation
- use behavioural and social sciences methods to identify effective interventions that are also cost-effective and address key equality and diversity issues
- address evidence gaps that are relevant to the DHSC and
- develop capacity in interdisciplinary behavioural and social sciences policy research.
Working in partnership
In our PRU we bring together researchers with a range of disciplinary backgrounds and expertise, to support policy makers in policy design, development, evaluation and implementation related to behavioural and social sciences. We work closely with our partners at the Department of Health and Social Care and in collaboration with other Policy Research Units. This enables us to provide the best evidence and advice, in a timely way, for the benefit of the public and patients.
Find out more
Visit the project website or email to find out more.
Recent outputs
Cardiovascular disease and mental health concerns
The NIHR PRU Behavioural and Social Sciences are exploring how adults at risk of cardiovascular disease and mild-to-moderate mental health concerns engage with integrated care in the UK.
Our Senior Research Fellow Dr Alison McKinlay is leading a systematic review, to help us better understand how integrated care is experienced by those at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and have existing mental health concerns, such as depression or anxiety. The review has been published in Systematic Reviews.
Behavioural factors influencing uptake of flu vaccination
This study utilised the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) to examine the public’s decision-making about seasonal flu vaccination through an online cross-sectional survey with 2004 participants in England, UK. This new paper, co-authored by our Senior Research Fellow Dr Vivi Antonopoulou, provides insights on tailored strategies to boost flu vaccine uptake. Read the paper in the Journal of Health Psychology.
Understanding healthcare professionals’ responses to patient complaints
Through a systematic literature review and the application of behavioural science, the authors identified a wide range of individual, social/organizational and environmental influences on complaints handling in secondary and tertiary care settings across the UK. The paper provides recommendations for more effective complaints handling behaviours. The paper, led by our Senior Research Fellow Dr Vivi Antonopoulou, was published in Health Research Policy and Systems.