Behavioural insights and evaluation

The Department of Health uses behavioural theories and scientific research principles to develop novel, cost-effective solutions to compliance and policy related issues.

We work collaboratively to:

Understand the issue and context - identify behaviours of concern, determine the influences on that behaviour and the barriers to its change.
Design intervention - we draw on academic research and behavioural science to develop interventions.
Test, learn, adapt - use robust evaluation, including randomised controlled trials, to determine the effectiveness of interventions.

Our work

Opioid Prescribing Practices Project: Key Outcomes

The Australian Government is working to reduce patient harm from the misuse of prescription opioids. This report outlines the findings of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted by the Department of Health. The RCT explored whether a letter designed with behavioural insights principles would help GPs reflect on their opioid prescribing. The letter encouraged GPs to reduce their prescribing, where safe and clinically indicated.

Nudge vs Superbugs: 12 months on

The Department of Health, with the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA) have implemented a behaviourally-informed intervention as part of the Australian Government’s strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This report outlines the 12 month findings of a study exploring whether sending General Practitioners (GPs) information about their prescribing would help them to reflect on, and reduce, their antibiotic prescribing where appropriate and safe.

Nudge vs Superbugs: A behavioural economics trial to reduce the overprescribing of antibiotics June 2018

The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA) implemented a behaviourally-informed intervention to reduce prescriptions of antibiotics by high-prescribing General Practitioners (GPs) when appropriate and safe to do so. This report outlines the six month findings of a study exploring whether sending General Practitioners (GPs) information about their prescribing would help them to reflect on, and reduce, their antibiotic prescribing where appropriate and safe.