NEAR-AFAR: A framework for applying the Behaviour Change Wheel to policies and interventions

1. NEAR-AFAR: A framework for applying the Behaviour Change Wheel to policies and interventions Robert West Susan Michie University College London Twitter: @robertjwest Email: robertwest100@gmail.com

2. Aims • To assess how the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) relates to the MINDSPACE and EAST frameworks • To introduce the NEAR-AFAR framework as a way of implementing the BCW • To consider successful large scale successful behaviour change interventions in terms of the NEAR-AFAR framework

3. Behaviour change and chess • Analyse the position to determine how to achieve your objective • Make use of all relevant pieces • Co-ordinate your pieces • Anticipate how the system will react • Think about combinations of moves, not just one move ahead • When you can’t work out all the consequences, use heuristics • Evaluate before and after each move

4. The Behaviour Change Wheel • A system for developing behaviour change interventions • Inter-disciplinary - not psychological • Promotes systems thinking • Multi-level: Individual, organisational and population • Synthesis of 19 frameworks • Comprehensive and coherent • Links interventions with models of behaviour • Uses whatever evidence is available, and guides search for evidence • A tool to guide thinking and action - not a rigid prescription

5. What behaviour(s)? What COM-B target(s)? APEASE criteria What intervention function(s) What policy categories What Intervention(s)?

6. What behaviour(s)? • Choose ones that are: • Impactful • Changeable • Understood • Sustainable • Do not be side-tracked by ones that are: • Appealing to stakeholders • Unsupportable • Unachievable • Narrow in focus

7. What COM-B target(s)? Do the people one is aiming to influence ..? • Know about the behaviour, and understand why it is important for them and how to do it (C) • Have the psychological and physical make-up needed for the behaviour (C) • Have the time and financial and material resources to enact the behaviour (O) • Have the social or material support required (O) • See the behaviour as normal and commonplace (M) • Have the willingness to prioritise the behaviour and/or can they be led to enact the behaviour without thinking (M)

8. What intervention function(s)?

9. What policy categories(s)?

10. Evaluation using APEASE

11. What behaviour(s)? What COM-B target(s)? APEASE criteria What intervention function(s) What policy categories What Intervention(s)?

17. NEAR - AFAR Promotes behaviour Prevents behaviour

20. Successful behaviour change interventions Reducing driving speed in built up areas Reducing smoking uptake Increasing smoking cessation Reducing drink-driving Increasing recycling Seat-belt usage Increasing cycling Increasing organ donation

21. Back to chess The BCW and NEAR-AFAR tell you: • what pieces are available • what the pieces can do • how to think strategically It does not make you a grandmaster!

22. Key points • Changing behaviour requires an in depth understanding of behaviour as part of a complex multi-level system • The BCW promotes the kind of thinking required and provides structured guidance • MINDSPACE and EAST provide useful mnemonics to help develop interventions but are not comprehensive or linked to models of behaviour • NEAR-AFAR may provide a framework for focusing on ‘big picture’ guidance when applying the BCW

23. Resources www.unlockingbehaviourchange.com www.ucl.ac.uk/behaviour-change http://www.behaviourchangewheel.com