Aleksandra (Ola) Borek

My research relates to understanding and facilitating behaviour change to improve health. It involves:

• behaviour change and inter-personal processes, including behaviour change theories and frameworks, mechanisms of action, behavioural influences and implementation of interventions
  
• designing, implementing and process evaluations of behaviour change interventions
• qualitative research methods
  

I have a BA in Sociology and MA in Social Research from the University of York, and a PhD in psychology applied to health behaviour change from the University of Exeter (Medical School).

My current research mostly focuses on improving how we manage acute infections and use antibiotics and on implementing antimicrobial stewardship interventions in primary care.

Prior to that, I researched social/ interpersonal change processes in group-based behaviour change interventions to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours. 

My other research interests include group dynamics, health-related communication, social and cultural norms and wider health determinants, and the role of point-of-care diagnostics in managing acute infections.

Since my PhD I've mostly worked on the following projects:

• Stopping antibiotics when you feel better: a qualitative study on using antibiotics differently in general practice
• Understanding the dynamics of policy development and healthcare worker behaviour in the UK during the COVID-19 public health emergency
• A qualitative sub-study of the PRINCIPLE trial on treatments for COVID-19
• STEP-UP study - a programme of research to improve the uptake and sustainability of effective interventions to promote prudent antibiotic use in primary care
  
• A qualitative study with locum GPs on the role of locums in antibiotic prescribing and stewardship
• ENACT study - Exploring the implementation of interventions to reduce antibiotic use and catheter-associated urinary tract infections
  
• Healthy Parent Carers - a programme of research to improve the health and well-being of parent carers
• MAGI study - Mechanisms of action in group-based behaviour change interventions