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The Person-Based Approach

The diagram below gives an overview of the Person-Based Approach.

Click on the different parts of the diagram to learn more about each element.

For demonstrations of ways the PBA can be used, see the examples at the bottom of the page.

PPI stakeholder co-production Evidence about user context and experience Programme theory and intervention development Planning, optimisation, implementation and development

For more information about the implementation and evaluation of the Germ Defence intervention see:

Morton, K., Ainsworth, B., Miller, S., et al.. (2021). Adapting Behavioral Interventions for a Changing Public Health Context: A Worked Example of Implementing a Digital Intervention During a Global Pandemic Using Rapid Optimisation Methods. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 369, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.668197. Cite.

For more details about the planning and optimisation of the Active Brains intervention see:

Essery, R., Pollet, S., Smith, K., et al., (2021). Planning and optimising a digital intervention to protect older adults’ cognitive health. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1), [158]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00884-2. Cite.

For more information about the implementation and evaluation of the Active Brains intervention see:

Smith, K., Bradbury, K., Essery, R., et al., (2020). Active Brains - a digital intervention to reduce cognitive decline in older adults: protocol for a feasibility randomised control trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 9(11), [18929]. https://doi.org/10.2196/18929. Cite.

First publication explaining the origins of the PBA and providing a general overview of the approach and how it can be applied:

Yardley, L., Morrison, L., Bradbury, K., & Muller, I. (2015). The person-based approach to intervention development: application to digital health-related behavior change interventions. Journal of medical Internet research, 17(1), e30. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4055. Cite.

Accompanies the above paper and provides examples of how PBA methods are applied:

Yardley, L., Ainsworth, B., Arden-Close, E., & Muller, I. (2015). The person-based approach to enhancing the acceptability and feasibility of interventions. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 1(1), 37 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-015-0033-z. Cite.

Some key example papers of the Person Based Approach being used to plan and optimise interventions:

Essery, R., Pollet, S., Smith, K.A. et al. (2021) Planning and optimising a digital intervention to protect older adults’ cognitive health. Pilot Feasibility Stud 7, 158. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00884-2. Cite.

Bradbury, K., Steele, M., Corbett, T., Geraghty, A., Krusche, A., Heber, E. D., Easton, S., Cheetham-Blake, T., Slodkowska-Barabasz, J., Muller, A. M., Wilde, L. J., Smith, K., Payne, L., Singh, K., Bacon, R., Burford, T., Summers, K., Turner, L., Richardson, A., ... Yardley, L. (2019). Developing a digital intervention for cancer survivors: An evidence, theory and person-based approach. npj Digital Medicine, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0163-4. Cite.

Some relevant book chapters:

Yardley L, Morrison L, Muller I, Bradbury K. (2020) Maximizing User Engagement with Behavior Change Interventions. The Handbook of Behavior Change. Jul 15:361.

Yardley L, Morrison L, Muller I, Bradbury K. (2020) Using qualitative research for intervention development and evaluation.. The Handbook of Behavior Change. Jul 15:361.

Click here to see all of our Person-Based Approach publications.