"Changing health habits is easier if we know how human behaviour works"

According to Manuel Armayones, a member of the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences and leader of the Behaviour Design Lab, part of the Psychology, Health & ICT (PSiNET) research group at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya's eHealth Center, "It's becoming abundantly clear that without behavioural science, especially psychology, it's going to be difficult to take on social challenges that involve changing people's behaviour". Armayones is one of Spain's leading experts in persuasive design in the field of digital health.

The Behaviour Design Lab, which also includes researchers Modesta Pousada and Beni Gómez-Zúñiga, has accomplished a great deal since it was set up just two years ago. They have attended a number of events both at home and abroad, published several papers, led the creation of an international network of researchers in the field of behavioural design, and taken part in projects to improve patients' quality of life alongside leading organizations, including Barcelona's Hospital Clínic and the DKV Innolab (part of the Barcelona Health Hub).

The research and knowledge transfer carried out by the Behaviour Design Lab, which is affiliated to the UOC's eHealth Center, focuses on behavioural design and persuasive technology applied to health. As theoretical references, the group draws on Fogg's behaviour model (Stanford University), the behaviour change wheel (University College London) and the persuasive systems design model (University of Oulu). It has a number of aims, foremost of which is to encourage people to form healthy lifestyle habits through the use of technology, as well as to advise on the design of public health policies in which citizens' behaviour is a relevant factor.

Technology with a human touch

According to Armayones, "One of the most effective technologies in helping to form new habits is the mobile app. To encourage people to change their behaviour, we need persuasive apps that influence their attitudes and motivations and support the change they want to make." Apps can send prompts and reminders, keep people motivated, promote healthy behaviour and do so on a larger scale.

The researcher sees technology as a tool, rather than the focal point of behavioural interventions: "While design and positive user experiences are indeed essential, they're not enough on their own to change people's behaviour. What's more important is that users understand that behind the app there are people who want to help them achieve their health goals. Technology is just another tool."

The members of the Behaviour Design Lab are pursuing research on technology interventions to reduce loneliness and foster healthy habits among people with disabilities (both projects within the framework of the UOC-COCEMFE Chair in Personal Autonomy and Digital Health); the behavioural assessment of mobile apps, projects and programmes; the acceptance and use of ICT by patients with chronic illnesses; and ways to improve patients' quality of life.

In one of its projects with Hospital Clínic, in which the University of Twente (the Netherlands) is also collaborating, it is studying how technology can make it easier for patients with chronic illnesses to look after their health. The UOC researchers are also working with the hospital's Patient Experience Unit on the Clí-Nit project, which harnesses behaviour design techniques to help patients sleep well while in hospital.

In addition, the group is spearheading a research venture for DKV aimed at finding strategies to encourage people that are overweight or obese to stay on their diet and exercise regimen in order to improve their health.

"Changing health habits is easier if we know how human behaviour works," said Armayones. Behavioural science, with the support of new technologies, has enormous potential to bring about change in society, as highlighted last year by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who urged institutions and governments to invest and conduct applied research in behavioural science as a critical tool for achieving the 2030 SDGs. Armayones and his team believe in this potential and are steering it towards applied research in the field of health.

The eHealth Center, the academic centre for digital health

The eHealth Center is an academic centre that is open to the world. Its goal is to educate and empower citizens and professionals, through the use of technology, and to lead a paradigm shift in health. It is people-centred, using research, education and guidance to contribute to society's progress and well-being.

^{UOC R&I} 

^{The UOC's research and innovation (R&I) is helping overcome pressing challenges faced by global societies in the 21st century, by studying interactions between technology and human & social sciences with a specific focus on the network society, e-learning and e-health.} 

^{Over 500 researchers and 52 research groups work among the University's seven faculties and two research centres: the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) and the eHealth Center (eHC).}

^{The University also cultivates online learning innovations at its eLearning Innovation Center (eLinC), as well as UOC community entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer via the Hubbik platform.}

^{The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and open knowledge serve as strategic pillars for the UOC's teaching, research and innovation. More information: research.uoc.edu #UOC25years}