preprints.org > social sciences > economics > doi: 10.20944/preprints202007.0515.v1

Preprint Concept Paper Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 19 July 2020 / Approved: 22 July 2020 / Online: 22 July 2020 (10:58:58 CEST)

Improving the effectiveness of health interventions is a major challenge in public health research and program development. A large body of literature has found low or no impact of health education and promotional interventions. We aim to develop a conceptual framework in support of intervention designs for preventive health behavior improvement programs and outcomes. The proposed approach is based on a narrative review of empirical literature assessing the limitations of less effective or ineffective field experiments regarding preventive health education and promotion interventions. We found three major limitations regarding the mental model’s balance of treatment and comparison groups, treatment groups’ willingness to adopt suggested behaviors, and the type, length, frequency, intensity, and sequence of treatments. To minimize the influence of these concerns, we propose a mental model-based repeated multifaceted (MRM) intervention design framework to provide an intervention design for improving health education and promotional programs.

Public Health Intervention, Health Education and Promotion, Behavior Change Intervention, Intervention Design, Multifaceted Intervention, Repeated Intervention, Mental Model Mapping, Low- and Medium-Income Country (LMIC).