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Nudging Interventions on Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption in Adults: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Author

Listed:
  • Mario Cesare Nurchis

    (Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
    Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy)

  • Marcello Di Pumpo

    (Azienda ULSS 6 Euganea, Regione Veneto, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Alessio Perilli

    (Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Greco

    (Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy)

  • Gianfranco Damiani

    (Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
    Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization identified alcohol and tobacco consumption as the risk factors with a greater attributable burden and number of deaths related to non-communicable diseases. A promising technique aimed to modify behavioral risk factors by redesigning the elements influencing the choice of people is nudging. Methodology : A scoping review of the literature was performed to map the literature evidence investigating the use of nudging for tobacco and alcohol consumption prevention and/or control in adults. Results: A total of 20 studies were included. The identified nudging categories were increasing salience of information or incentives (IS), default choices (DF), and providing feedback (PF). Almost three-quarters of the studies implementing IS and half of those implementing PF reported a success. Three-quarters of the studies using IS in conjunction with other interventions reported a success whereas more than half of the those with IS alone reported a success. The PF strategy performed better in multi-component interventions targeting alcohol consumption. Only one DF mono-component study addressing alcohol consumption reported a success. Conclusions: To achieve a higher impact, nudging should be integrated into comprehensive prevention policy frameworks, with dedicated education sessions for health professionals. In conclusion, nudge strategies for tobacco and alcohol consumption prevention in adults show promising results. Further research is needed to investigate the use of nudge strategies in socio-economically diverse groups and in young populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Cesare Nurchis & Marcello Di Pumpo & Alessio Perilli & Giuseppe Greco & Gianfranco Damiani, 2023. "Nudging Interventions on Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption in Adults: A Scoping Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1675-:d:1039010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cynthia Weiyi Cai, 2020. "Nudging the financial market? A review of the nudge theory," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(4), pages 3341-3365, December.
    2. Congiu, Luca & Moscati, Ivan, 2022. "A review of nudges: definitions, justifications, effectiveness," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115134, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Hollie L. Tripp & Justin C. Strickland & Melissa Mercincavage & Janet Audrain-McGovern & Eric C. Donny & Andrew A. Strasser, 2021. "Tailored Cigarette Warning Messages: How Individualized Loss Aversion and Delay Discounting Rates Can Influence Perceived Message Effectiveness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-11, October.
    4. Damgaard, Mette Trier & Nielsen, Helena Skyt, 2018. "Nudging in education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 313-342.
    5. Adnan M. S. Fakir & Tushar Bharati, 2022. "Healthy, nudged, and wise: Experimental evidence on the role of information salience in reducing tobacco intake," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(6), pages 1129-1166, June.
    6. Gideon P. Naudé & Sean B. Dolan & Justin C. Strickland & Meredith S. Berry & David J. Cox & Matthew W. Johnson, 2021. "The Influence of Episodic Future Thinking and Graphic Warning Labels on Delay Discounting and Cigarette Demand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-15, November.
    7. Luca Congiu & Ivan Moscati, 2022. "A review of nudges: Definitions, justifications, effectiveness," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(1), pages 188-213, February.
    8. Woodend, A. & Schölmerich, V. & Denktas, S., 2015. ""Nudges" to prevent behavioral risk factors associated with major depressive disorder," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(11), pages 2318-2321.
    9. Frieden, T.R., 2010. "A framework for public health action: The health impact pyramid," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(4), pages 590-595.
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