Table 3 Recommendations to increase public acceptability of policies by members of the public and policymakers mapped onto each theme
Theme/ Sub-theme | Members of the public | Policymakers |
|---|---|---|
Theme 1: Perceived policy effectiveness | ||
Believable mechanisms of action | None. | Explain mechanism by which policy intends to modify behaviour (mixed views on this suggestion, as some PMs worried that the mechanism of action would reveal unconscious thought processes, e.g., removing sweets from checkouts). |
Barriers | Make public transport accessible/convenient and affordable (e.g., financial schemes to buy and fix bikes). | Make public transport accessible/convenient and affordable (e.g., financial schemes to buy and fix bikes). |
Invest in cycling infrastructure (segregated and covered cycling paths, showers, bike racks). | Invest in cycling infrastructure (segregated and covered cycling paths, showers, bike racks). | |
Invest in cycling lessons. | Provide incentives for active-travel (e.g., financial/reduced working hours). | |
Provide incentives for active-travel (e.g., financial/reduced working hours). | Ensure safety by increasing policing in public spaces, e.g., parks. | |
Ensure safety by increasing policing in public spaces, e.g., parks. | Ban or regulate ‘unhealthy’ food availability and marketing. | |
Ban or regulate ‘unhealthy’ food availability and marketing. | Extend taxes to other ‘unhealthy foods’. | |
Increase proposed distance for takeaways around schools. | Food reformulation. | |
Provide financial aid for healthy foods. | Provide financial aid for healthy foods. | |
Invest in cooking and meal planning lessons. | Invest in cooking and meal planning lessons. | |
Provide health education. | Provide health education. | |
Valued co-benefits | Better communicate benefits of policies on current concerns (e.g., mental health). | Better communicate benefits of policies on current concerns (e.g., mental health). |
Theme 2: Perceived policy fairness | ||
Opportunity to benefit | None. | None. |
Equality | Design policies that consider individual differences (e.g., employment status, job type, socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity). | Design policies that consider individual differences (e.g., employment status, job type, socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity). |
| Â | Implement and prioritise multisectoral policies, e.g., across public transport, health, education. | |
| Â | Design policies with exemptions for certain populations. | |
| Â | Tackle inequality (food insecurity, poverty and low living wages). | |
Rewarding vs. penalising behaviour | Introduce maximum working hours with no reduction in salary. | Reduce portion sizes while reducing prices. |
Reduce portion sizes while reducing prices. | Promote and provide awards for healthy takeaways. | |
Combine policies with penalties with policies that provide rewards. | Â | |
Theme 3: Communication of policies | ||
Visibility | Communicate policy successes. | Communicate policy successes. |
Use recommended channels to transmit message: word of mouth, social media, health champions (e.g., Marcus Rashford and Jamie Oliver). | Involve members of the community in policy communication to make them more visible and reach more people. | |
The role of media | None. | Messages should be non-judgemental, consistent, accurate and mention short-term effects . |