Report: Tech could change unhealthy habits

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The NHS should look to new technology and techniques to encourage healthier lifestyles, according to a report from the King’s Fund.

The report, ‘Commissioning and behaviour change’, looked at different ways of encouraging people to stop smoking, drink moderately and improve their diet and exercise.

The King’s Fund Director of Policy and report co-author, Dr Anna Dixon, said: “Obesity and the health problems associated with smoking and excessive alcohol are the biggest challenges facing the 21st-century NHS. The methods used to promote public health need to be more modern, using the most advanced techniques and technologies.”

While the report suggested a wide range of methods, including financial incentives, it praised the use of websites, telephone services and other IT-based programmes.

“Financial incentives and information campaigns can be useful but are far more likely to lead to real and long-term changes in people’s behaviour when paired with other interventions like tailored information and personalised support,” said Dr Dixon.

The report called for better use of social marketing, as well as data analysis of demographics to better target campaigns.

A copy of the report is available here.

Click here to read about the current IT rollout happening across the NHS.

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