Meet the researcher: Fabiana Lorencatto

My research focuses on understanding and changing human behaviour.

I apply theories, frameworks, and mixed-methods from psychology and the behavioural sciences to identify the individual, socio-cultural and environmental influences on behaviour, as a basis for designing theory- and evidence-based behaviour change interventions. My projects predominantly focus on health-related behaviour, such as medication adherence or self-management in chronic illness. However, the things healthcare professionals do in clinical practice (e.g. prescribing medications, referring patients) are also forms of human behaviour. There is evidence that many clinicians do not always ‘behave’ in line with best available evidence and guidelines, meaning patients often do not receive the best care and outcomes.  My area of research (Implementation Science), focuses on understanding what drives evidence-practice gaps, and designing interventions to improve implementation and quality of healthcare. My current studies focus on issues such as infection prevention control and reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics.