Resources

Behavioural Science in Action: BeSci Unit @ Public Health Wales Progress to Impact 2025-26

This impact report is for Public Health Wales staff, and stakeholders working across the wider public health system in Wales. It sets out the range of work which the Behavioural Science Unit has undertaken over 2025-2026, focusing on how the Unit is progressing against the areas outlined in the Behavioural Science Enabling Plan for Wales. It acknowledges the partners who have worked with the Unit, provides insight for those that are considering future collaboration, and reflects on the contribution of collective activities towards the routine application of behavioural science for better health and equity.

Better Health Through Behavioural Science: An Enabling Plan for Wales

This plan describes a route map of important actions that can secure the conditions to enable the more routine and systematic use of behavioural science in services, improvement and innovation, communications, policy and systems approaches that that are aiming for better health and wellbeing.

Developed with a technical and strategic advisory group, and input from our Behavioural Science Community for Wales, the plan draws on regional and international approaches to behavioural science application in health and wellbeing, and describes how, through applying behavioural science in our work, we can get what we aim for more often, and in doing so realise a behavioural dividend that optimises our impact for better health and equity.

Using Behavioural Science to Tackle Health Inequalities

This spotlight feature blog explores the critical challenge of designing health interventions. It introduces key behavioural science concepts and showcases how the BSU is supporting the application of them, along with reference to a suite of resources to support more equitable public health action.  

Winter well-being: shared actions and impact

A new report by Public Health Wales brings together the latest evidence, behavioural insights and practical tools to support health and care colleagues and services in preparing for the winter months.

The report, Winter Well-being: Shared Actions and Impact, is designed to complement existing NHS and Welsh Government winter planning frameworks. It provides actionable guidance and checklists to help teams strengthen system resilience, maintain population health, and ease demand on services.

The report also highlights the importance of prevention, including protecting against winter viruses by getting vaccinated against flu, RSV and COVID-19, staying active, eating warm meals, checking in on neighbours, and taking vitamin D daily to stay healthy through the colder months.

Bitesize BeSci | August 2025 | Issue 04

The Fourth issue of the Bitesize BeSci e-bulletin features case studies and resources that look at behaviourally informed training.

Behavioural Science for Better Health: How are we doing in Public Health Wales?

An Infographic summarising the evaluation and reporting of our progress across five World Health Organisation ‘Strategic Commitment’ areas, for working towards the routine application of behavioural science for better health in Wales.

Bitesize BeSci | May 2025 | Issue 03

The third issue of the Bitesize BeSci e-bulletin features case studies and resources that look at the role of behaviours within complex systems

Behavioural Science In Action | BeSci Unit @ Public Health Wales | 2024-25 Review

This report is for the staff, teams and services in Public Health Wales, and the wider public health system in Wales. It sets out the range of work which the BSU has undertaken over the last year, with a spotlight on some of our key activities. It acknowledges the partners who have worked with us, provides insight for those that are considering working with us and, reflects on our impact as well as delivery.

Behaviourally Informed Communications Initiative Case Studies

The Behaviourally Informed Communications Initiative (BICI) first launched in 2024, with 30+ attendees from a range of different teams bringing a piece of communication to optimise using behavioural science. This collection of case studies helps to outline the real-world application of BICI – including work from screening teams, vaccination teams, as well as Greener Primary Care and Primary Care.

BICI: Behaviourally Informed Communications Initiative Workbook

This interactive workbook builds on the ‘SCALE’ framework, first introduced by the Behavioural Science Unit in 2023. The workbook includes a number of activities, designed to help guide you through the process of developing a piece of communication using behavioural science.

Behaviourally Informed Communications Initiative (BICI): Development and Implementation Report

The Behaviourally Informed Communications Initiative launched in June 2024, with over 35 stakeholders from a range of different teams brining a piece of communication to optimise by applying behavioural science. This report includes information about how the initative was developed and delivered, including process evaluation insight from cohort attendees and two case studies.

Public Health Wales Behavioural Science Unit’s impact across the public health system: A realist ripple effects mapping evaluation

This report highlights key themes to progress including relationship-building, capability development, and the practical application of behavioural science in policy and practice. As a crucial approach to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities, behavioural science can help optimise policy, services and communications to support delivery of the Public Health Wales Long Term Strategy. This realist ripple effects evaluation provides key recommendations to drive continued impact.

Bitesize BeSci | February 2025 | Issue 02

The second issue of the Bitesize BeSci e-bulletin features case studies and resources that look at the benefits of interdisciplinary and collaborative working when applying behaviour change interventions.

Bitesize BeSci | November 2024 | Issue 01

This series includes practical resources to help support you when applying behavioural science to your work. Inside, you’ll find a range of case studies, resources, tools and guides to help put behavioural science theory into practice and optimise the outcomes of your work.

Evaluating Behaviour Change Interventions

Written in collaboration with the Central Evaluation Team and Public Health Wales, this is a practical and interactive tool that identifies key points to take into consideration when you’re planning how to test and evaluate your behaviour change intervention.

Identifying and Applying Behaviour Change Techniques

A practical, interactive tool that introduces Behaviour Change Techniques, considered to be the ‘active ingredients’ of behaviour change interventions. The tool walks you through how to identify and deliver Behaviour Change Techniques, drawing on the COM-B model and Behaviour Change Wheel.

Behavioural Diagnosis – Selecting implementation types

A practical, interactive tool to help you consider which implementation types may be the most appropriate for delivering your chosen intervention.

Behavioural Diagnosis – Mapping insights and selecting intervention functions

A practical, interactive tool to help you consider which implementation functions may be the most appropriate for delivering your chosen intervention.

Exploring factors influencing the application of behavioural science within public health practice across Wales: A summary report

A report into the exploration of factors influencing the application of behavioural science within public health practice across Wales.

Behavioural Diagnosis: How to collect behavioural insights

A practical, interactive tool to help you develop a systematic understanding of the influences of your target behaviour, in your target population.

Deciding on a target behaviour and target population tool

A practical, interactive tool to help you consider and define your target behaviour and target population, as you create a ‘behavioural specification’.

Developing Behaviourally Informed Communications

An interactive tool to help you take a behaviourally informed approach when designing your communications

Cost of Living Crisis in Wales; Applying Behavioural Science

Understanding and shaping behaviours, including accessing support services, is critical in responding to the cost of living crisis. This infographic illustrates how behavioural science can be used, drawing on the report written by Public Health Wales and the resources produced by Hertfordshire County Council’s Behavioural Science Unit.

Responding to the climate crisis: applying behavioural science

The climate crisis presents a persistent and growing environmental burden of disease with significant public health consequences. Addressing the crisis via mitigation and adaptation methods requires changing our behaviour. This guide is for professionals/practitioners working on policy, services or communications to tackle the climate crisis, offering useful tips on incorporating behavioural insights and increasing the likelihood of a change in behaviour being adopted.

Improving health and wellbeing: A guide to using behavioural science in policy and practice

This guide for practitioners and policy makers provides a brief introduction to behavioural science and a step-by-step process for developing behaviour change interventions – whether policy, service or communications. It’s designed to support topic-matter experts to optimise their interventions – helping to ensure we more often ‘get what we aim for’. Improving health and wellbeing: a guide to using behavioural science in policy and practice