NBER Roybal Center for Behavior Change in Health

National Bureau Of Economic Research, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Abstract – NBER Roybal Center for Behavior Change in Health (5P30AG034532 – 17) Health outcomes are affected by myriad mechanisms, including behaviors. An important question is how such behaviors might be influenced in ways that improve health outcomes on a broad population-wide scale. The NBER Roybal Center explores this question by conducting clinical trials with analytic and theoretical foundations in the behavioral sciences. All trials implemented by the Center have appropriate sample sizes and sufficient statistical power to contribute important learnings about the mechanisms that drive behavior change and interventions that may change behavior. The interventions are selected to be cost-effective and scalable, with the potential to progress through the NIH Stage Model during the Center’s life. Our Center focuses primarily on efficacy (Stage 2-3) and effectiveness (Stage 4) testing; some trials also involve elements of intervention development and preliminary tests (Stage 1) and implementation research (Stage 5). Among the major categories of research we plan to conduct are ways to increase healthy behaviors (e.g., increase annual wellness visits, improve diet and exercise regimens), decrease unhealthy behaviors (e.g., smoking cessation), and improve provider decision-making (e.g., clinical decision support architecture). A cross-cutting theme of our Center is to study the way social and economic factors that vary across groups influence the distribution of health care outcomes, and we explore interventions tailored to communities at highest risk. The research plan is strengthened by a partnership with Geisinger Clinic, a non-profit health care network and insurer with a rich history of innovative delivery reforms and experimental research to improve population health in an active, well-integrated, health care delivery and community health setting. The NBER-Geisinger partnership provides the core infrastructure for implementing experimental interventions on- site with an engaged and committed health care delivery partner. The Center also engages a collaborative network of leading behavioral scientists and other experts who conduct clinical trials, share research activities and findings, and collaborate on joint projects. The Center is currently in its seventeenth year.