Behavior Change
Research overview
If you’re like most people, your health depends more on what you do every day than on what your health care provider can do for you. Nonetheless, making healthy lifestyle choices can be difficult, especially when it means changing your daily routine and then maintaining these changes over time. That’s why scientists with Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) are working to make the right choices the easy and sustainable ones.
Research suggests that approximately one-third of all deaths in the Unites States are related to 4 behavioral risk factors: physical inactivity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use. But other behaviors are also critical to health and well-being, such as not misusing prescription opioids or marijuana, getting routine cancer screenings, and following your providers’ medical advice.
Historically, KPWHRI's research has tested different forms of behavioral counseling or novel ways to deliver this counseling. Increasingly, we are now testing digital therapeutic interventions delivered via smartphone app or text — for example, to help people set and achieve their health goals. People like the convenience of digital interventions, but it remains to be seen how effective they are and for whom they work best. Our research is helping to answer these important questions.
KPWHRI’s behavioral medicine research includes:
- Reducing unhealthy use or abuse of substances such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and opioids
- Promoting physical activity, healthy eating, and weight loss
- Improving oral health care
- Increasing treatment adherence and routine cancer screening
- Improving chronic pain management
- Creating personalized, convenient, effective behavioral interventions that can be delivered using various digital technologies
Recent Publications on
Fenton JJ, Cai Y, Weiss NS, Elmore JG, Pardee RE, Reid RJ, Baldwin LM. Delivery of cancer screening: how important is the preventive health examination? Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(6):580-5. PubMed
Bauer NS, Lozano P, Rivara FP. The effectiveness of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in public middle schools: a controlled trial. J Adolesc Health. 2007;40(3):266-74. Epub 2007 Jan 24. PubMed
Thompson B, Coronado G, Chen L, Thompson LA, Halperin A, Jaffe R, McAfee T, Zbikowski SM. Prevalence and characteristics of smokers at 30 Pacific Northwest colleges and universities. Nicotine Tob Res. 2007;9(3):429-38. PubMed
Berke EM, Koepsell TD, Moudon AV, Hoskins RE, Larson EB. Association of the built environment with physical activity and obesity in older persons. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(3):486-92. Epub 2007 Jan 31. PubMed
Berke EM, Gottlieg LM, Moudon AV, Larson EB. Protective association between neighborhood walkability and depression in older men. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(4):526-33. Epub 2007 Feb 26. PubMed
Researchers in
Affiliate researchers
Sheryl L. Catz, PhD
Professor, Health Care Innovation and Technology, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing
University of California–Davis
Sue McCurry, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Psychosocial and Community Health
Emily Williams, PhD, MPH
UW Department of Health Services; VA Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence
Research
Digital tool could help people change smoking habits
A mobile application designed to engage smokers who are ambivalent about quitting shows promising results.
News
Toolkit offers guidance for people with persistent pain
The new comprehensive resource was written from the perspective of patients experiencing ongoing pain.
Research
Relieving chronic pain with CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy with yoga-based movement helps with pain for those on long-term opioids.
Healthy Findings Blog
We decreased people’s daily sedentary time by an hour
Changing behavior isn’t easy, but Dr. Dori Rosenberg helped older people to stand and walk more.
healthy findings blog
Should we consider vaping to be friend or foe?
Dr. Jennifer McClure discusses the rise in deaths and injuries associated with vaping and what you should know about this risk.
innovating care
Asking patients about cannabis may benefit overall health
Drs. Lapham and Bradley find frequency of cannabis use can be tied to other behavioral health patterns and needs.
What motivates Dr. Kathy Bradley to study prevention of alcohol use disorders?
With a passion for primary care and teaching, she aims to make high quality patient-centered care for substance use issues part of mainstream medical practice
opioids
Patient-doctor trust withstands opioid risk reduction
Risk-reduction initiative for chronic opioid therapy sustains patient-doctor trust, Dr. Karen Sherman finds.
behavior change
Patient-centered care for alcohol use disorders
Sharing CHOICE trial results, KPWHRI takes next steps to advance research on alcohol-related care at Kaiser Permanente Washington and beyond.
Healthy Aging
Stand up for your health!
Researcher Dori Rosenberg shares the importance of being less sedentary — and tips for sitting less.
Land Acknowledgment
Our Seattle offices sit on the occupied land of the Duwamish and by the shared waters of the Coast Salish people, who have been here thousands of years and remain. Learn about practicing land acknowledgment.