Charité University Clinic Berlin, Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Läuft GmbH, Behavioural Science, Wiesbadener Straße 42, 14197, Berlin, Germany.
BMC Public Health. 2021 Apr 29;21(1):821. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10808-7.
In recent years, policymakers have increasingly used behaviourally informed policies, including 'nudges'. They have been implemented to produce desirable social outcomes such as healthier eating and physical activity. In Germany, a small research team at the Federal Chancellery acts as the central unit to promote the introduction of nudges in the design of public life. Despite this, the nudging concept itself as well as the understanding around it has not spread widely among German citizens. When reporting about the concept, German media is often very critical of the concept.
Using a for age, sex and educational level nationally representative online survey with 1000 participants, we investigate whether German citizens know about the concept of nudging. We also explore if they approve of the theoretical concept as well as a list of seven specific interventions regarding healthy eating and physical activity. A particular focus is placed on whether the level of approval is dependent on the target group of the intervention, as well as different intervention-initiators.
We find that nearly 80% of the respondents have never heard of nudging. However when being provided with a definition, we find that a strong majority (90%) supports the concept of nudging as well as all the specific interventions. Acceptance rates are higher if interventions are targeted at the general population compared to only children. All initiators - statutory health insurers, the government, private companies, and independent experts - are accepted as nudge initiators.
Amongst Germans nudges are an accepted method to promote health behaviours. Policy makers from various fields in Germany should take that into account to improve future health policy.
近年来，政策制定者越来越多地使用行为信息政策，包括“助推”。它们被用来产生理想的社会结果，如更健康的饮食和体育活动。在德国，联邦总理府的一个小型研究小组作为中央单位，促进在公共生活设计中引入助推。尽管如此，助推概念本身以及对其的理解并没有在德国公民中广泛传播。在报道这一概念时，德国媒体经常对此持批评态度。
我们使用了一种全国代表性的在线调查，调查对象为 1000 名年龄、性别和教育程度不同的参与者，调查德国公民是否了解助推的概念。我们还探讨了他们是否赞成这一理论概念以及关于健康饮食和体育活动的七项具体干预措施。特别关注的是，对干预措施的批准程度是否取决于干预措施的目标群体以及不同的干预措施发起者。
我们发现，近 80%的受访者从未听说过助推。然而，当我们提供一个定义时，我们发现绝大多数（90%）人支持助推的概念以及所有具体的干预措施。与仅针对儿童的干预措施相比，如果干预措施针对的是普通人群，那么接受率会更高。法定健康保险公司、政府、私营公司和独立专家等所有发起者都被视为助推的发起者。
在德国人中，助推是一种被接受的促进健康行为的方法。德国各领域的政策制定者应该考虑到这一点，以改善未来的健康政策。
