11.P. Scientific session: Behavioural Science of Emergency Preparedness across Europe
Authors:   Organised by: RIVM (Netherlands), EC, WHO/Europe, Carlos III Health Institute (Spain), NIJZ (Slovenia),   Chair persons: Tina Likki (Denmark)
Published: October 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of human behaviour in times of crisis. However, it also revealed that the behavioural sciences were not optimally prepared to provide actionable insights to policy makers to support preventive and coping behaviours in a crisis context. To ensure that the behavioural sciences can provide timely and effective advice to policy makers during future emergencies, it is key to act before a crisis occurs. The current workshop chaired by the Behavioural and Cultural Insights Unit of the WHO, will offer five perspectives to explore how behavioural science as a discipline is being applied to our understanding of pandemic and emergency preparedness and what concrete actions can and are already being taken now. Following five short presentations, a discussion with the panel and the audience will take place. The Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) will start by presenting their approach toward embedding behavioural science of pandemic preparedness: the organisation of a national stakeholder network, the development of a conceptual framework, and3) development of a quantitative survey monitor for individual level behaviour. monitoring pandemic preparedness. f The Spanish Carlos III Health Institute and Slovenian Public Health institute will present insights about operationalising this monitor in their given context. They will present results of the first two rounds of this monitor on behalf of the four European member states, focusing on comparative insights on perceptions and states of preparedness, vaccination, citizen wellbeing and resilience with respect to their context. Next, the Competence Centre on Behavioural Insights of the European Commission will present an experimental approach toward preparedness. They will present results based on a scenario study, focused on understanding behaviours in the broader context of pandemic and disaster preparedness. The last two presentations will reflect on qualitative approaches. The Behavioural and Cultural Insights Unit of the WHO will present their qualitative study on health-service access, needs and behaviours of Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries, and reflect on operating under emergency constraints. In the final presentation the RIVM will present their findings of qualitative methods to study perceived emergency readiness. In particular, their study focuses on what citizens understand by pandemic preparedness, and to what extent they perceive their government as prepared for a future pandemic. Overall, the workshop aims to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the importance of behavioural science in pandemic and disaster preparedness and inspire collaborative action towards building resilient and effective strategies for future crises.

Key messages

• The workshop underlines the importance of behavioural science in preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks.

• Participants learn how behavioural sciences can already be applied now to prepare citizens and organisations for future pandemics and crises.