Assessment of an innovative behaviour change intervention for looked after young people through applying Health Psychology and Public Health

BackgroundLooked after young people represent a group of people under a supervision order with a local authority. They are frequently reported engaging in poorer health behaviours than are their peers. There are few reported assessments of behaviour change interventions for looked after young people, therefore the effectiveness of existing interventions and insight for the development of further interventions are unknown. Much has been made of the challenge of how to affect key health behaviours in adolescence and hence reduce future inequalities in health. The objectives were therefore to develop and assess a health behaviour change intervention for looked after young people to support healthier lifestyle choices.