Mission
Our goal in the Laboratory for Health Behavior Assessment and Intervention is to improve understanding of health behaviors in order to prevent or reduce negative health outcomes.

Our main interest is in health problems in which behavior change is crucial for risk reduction, the behavior change is difficult to measure, and clear communication is essential.

We focus on health problems related to sexually transmitted diseases, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and violence.

Description
The Laboratory for Health Behavior Assessment & Intervention (LHBAI) is located within the Department of Public and Community Health at the University of Maryland, College Park. LHBAI is directed by Dr. Bradley Boekeloo and focuses on behavior assessment and intervention.

To assess behavior, LHBAI . . .

• develops innovative ways of measuring behavior;
• examines the reliability and validity of behavioral measurements;
• develops models for self- and provider behavioral risk assessment;
• examines the adequacy of behavioral assessment for prevention in clinical and community settings; and
• conducts educational assessments for behavior change planning.

In regard to intervention, LHBAI . . .

• develops and tests innovative, theory-based models for reducing behavioral risks;
• assesses appropriateness of models using developmental methods, such as focus groups and probed interviews;
• utilizes state-of-the-art educational and communications technology;
• develops surveys and other evaluation tools; and
• evaluates behavior change models in demonstration projects using state-of-the-art study designs.