GIS appoints Behavioral Science Team in Public Health

A new way of thinking about public health

Traditional approaches to health policy often assume that people make rational decisions based on information. However, practice shows otherwise: even the best educational campaigns or health procedures can fail if they do not take into account real-world barriers, emotions and daily habits. In response to this challenge, the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS), with the support of the UNICEF Office for Refugee Response in Poland, has established a new Behavioral Science in Public Health "BOND" Team. - Behavioral Observations, Science and Decisions.

The team is tasked with integrating behavioral science knowledge into the design of health policies. This approach, increasingly used in countries such as the UK, France and Canada, is based on scientific evidence and takes into account citizens' daily experiences and decisions.

- In an era of misinformation and growing health challenges, we need to better understand what really drives people's decisions. It is not enough to talk about what is healthy - we need to understand why, despite this knowledge, many people choose differently," stresses Dr. Pawel Grzesiowski, Chief Sanitary Inspector.

An interdisciplinary team and a common goal

"BOND" includes experts from GIS and representatives from key institutions such as the Medical University of Gdansk, the Institute of Mother and Child, the Foundation of the Institute of Mother and Child, the National Institute of Public Health PZH-BIP, the National Health Fund and the National Center for Addiction Prevention. The team is interdisciplinary in nature and will design effective, evidence-based public health interventions.

- Effective health policy should start with understanding what real needs and barriers people face in their daily health decisions, especially those from the most vulnerable groups, says Nona Zicherman, Country Coordinator of UNICEF's Office of Refugee Response in Poland. - By analyzing behavior, it is possible to design solutions that truly address these needs. We are pleased that our knowledge and experience can contribute to improving the health and well-being of children and families in Poland.

Training and first actions

Before the "BOND" team was formed, members underwent a series of intensive training sessions, led by experts from recognized institutions - including the Yale School of Medicine, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the National Health Service and others. Participants learned about:

• Good practices of behavioral teams from other countries,
• Methods for designing and testing interventions,
• The application of behavioral science to public policies,
• Qualitative and quantitative methods in research,
• Ethical principles and a human-centered approach.

The knowledge gained is now to be translated into concrete actions. The Team's first joint intervention will be a campaign to promote routine vaccination of children - both from Poland and from refugee families.

Source: GIS