Behavioral Approach in Health Science: Interdisciplinary Pathways from Behavioral to Cognitive Science in Healthcare

This doctoral thesis is grounded in an interdisciplinary perspective, with applied behavioral science at its core. It draws upon foundational theories such as Simon’s Bounded Rationality, Kahneman and Tversky’s Prospect Theory, and Thaler’s Nudge Theory. These perspectives are used to examine key issues in health science, including the implementation of clinical guidelines, the diffusion of innovation in healthcare systems, adolescent vaccine hesitancy, and how digital health interventions can influence health literacy. Though these topics may appear varied, complex, and even divergent, they share a common thread: each stands to gain from the insights offered by applied behavioral science. The first paper explores how clinical guidelines are applied in real-world settings and how they reshape medical decision-making environments. The second investigates the factors that hinder or facilitate innovation adoption in healthcare facilities. The third presents a randomized controlled trial focused on human papillomavirus vaccine hesitancy among adolescents, examining the role of cognitive biases in shaping attitudes and decisions. The fourth provides a state-of-the-art review of digital health tools aimed at enhancing health literacy. The thesis closes by offering a forward reflection on the evolution toward applied cognitive science as an emerging and essential direction for future research.