Designing Communication Interventions that Stick: Introducing an Integrated Process Model of Health Intervention Design

Introduction: Relying on theory and evidence is a tenet of health intervention planning. Beyond these principles, it is important to understand how theory and the available evidence are combined and inform subsequent steps in the process. This article presents an integrated process model for designing health interventions using behavioral insights and Human-centered Design (HCD). To illustrate the model, we describe its application in developing an educational intervention addressing older adults’ influenza and pneumococcal vaccination behavior. Methods: A representative survey assessed psychological, health information, demographic, and lifestyle determinants. HCD methods, e.g., personas, were used to combine the findings. The perception and memory effects of three different intervention ideas were tested with an experiment and qualitative interviews, followed by the implementation and evaluation of a final intervention idea. Open science principles were used to facilitate transparency. Results: Following the process model, the final intervention idea “For the Plus in life” was chosen, that met the criteria of good recall, recognition, and positive evaluations. The intervention portrayed the protection of oneself and others and emphasized an improved quality of life by avoiding illness. Preliminary evaluation results after implementation in two consecutive years show that the intervention fulfilled important outcomes. Discussion: The process model demonstrates how to combine behavior-oriented theory and evidence to develop a data-driven, human-centered educational health intervention. The model provides a practical guide for public health practitioners to combine and implement data at different steps in health intervention planning.Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (Deutsches Register Klinische Studien) DRKS00012653.