Nudge Theory: Advancing Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Behavioral factors significantly influence health outcomes, yet individuals often struggle to make optimal long-term health decisions, highlighting the limitations of conventional health promotion strategies. The emergence of behavioral science introduces promising techniques to bridge this gap, with nudge theory being a key solution. Coined by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein in 2008, nudge theory proposes that subtle, cost-effective changes to the decision-making environment can lead to significant behavioral benefits while preserving individual autonomy. Nudges have gained prominence in health promotion due to their effectiveness across a wide range of domains, including maternity care and chronic disease prevention. This interest has been exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, where nudges played a crucial role in promoting protective behaviors. Governments, NGOs, and health systems worldwide are increasingly integrating behavioral insights into public health campaigns, digital health interventions, and service delivery methods to enhance public health outcomes.

The aim of this Research Topic is to deepen our understanding of the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence supporting the application of nudge theory in disease prevention and health promotion. Given the global rise in the triple burden of disease, compounded by pandemics, health inequities, and the challenges of delivering quality healthcare in developing nations, innovative and cost-effective strategies are urgently needed. This collection seeks contributions from a range of perspectives, including behavioral science, public health, economics, digital health, programs, and policies. It aims to showcase how nudges are implemented, as well as the ethical, cultural, and contextual considerations they entail, while also highlighting the impact on individual and community behaviors, and identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities for further research and innovation.

To gather further insights, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Theoretical Foundations and Evolution of Nudge Theory in Health
• Nudge-Based Interventions in Disease Prevention
• Digital Nudges and Mobile Health (mHealth)
• Cultural, Ethical, and Contextual Considerations in Nudging
• Nudges and Health Equity
• Behavioral Economics and Health Policy
• Community-Level Nudging
• Evaluating the Impact of Nudges
• Integrating Nudges with Other Behavioral Models
• Future of Nudge Theory in Health Innovation

We invite submissions of Original Research, Review, Systematic Review, Methods, and Policy and Practice Reviews.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: nudge theory, behavioral science, health promotion, disease prevention

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.