Reducing risky behavior with habit reversal: A review of behavioral strategies to reduce habitual hand‐to‐head behavior

Abstract

Habit reversal training (HRT) has been a mainstay of behavior analysts' repertoire for nearly the last 50 years. HRT has been effective in treating a host of repetitive behavior problems. In the face of the current coronavirus pandemic, HRT has practical public health importance as a possible intervention for reducing hand‐to‐head behaviors that increase the risk of viral infection. The current paper provides a brief review of HRT for hand‐to‐head habits that is designed for a broad audience and concludes with practical suggestions, based on HRT, for reducing face‐touching behaviors.

Leveraging applied behavior analysis research and practice in the service of public health

“…The special series on public health and telehealth in this journal (LeBlanc et al, 2020) further expanded the public health subject matter of ABA in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reviews targeting key viral transmission behaviors (e.g., hand washing and face touching; Heinicke et al, 2020;Jess & Dozier, 2020) appeared alongside reviews of the many behavior-based strategies that can reduce the spread of disease in workplaces (Gravina et al, 2020). Although these papers illustrate that ABA research has much to say about important public health problems, they also illustrate the opportunity and need for far more research.…”

“…Although these papers illustrate that ABA research has much to say about important public health problems, they also illustrate the opportunity and need for far more research. For example, Heinicke et al (2020) had to tap a deep research base on habit reversal and face touching that was not evaluated in the context of viral transmission, per se.…”

Tolerance of face coverings for children with autism spectrum disorder

“…Based on health guidelines (CDC, 2020a), people should not touch face coverings while they are wearing them, unless proper hand hygiene is frequently and consistently used. Thus, extending previous suggestions for the reduction of face touching (e.g., Heinicke et al, 2020) to target a reduction in touching face coverings would advance the literature on behavioral interventions for children with ASD. Finally, research is also needed on appropriate donning and doffing of face coverings by children with ASD, as well as associated hand hygiene with face covering use (i.e.…”

Attempting a Change in Human Behavior in ICU in COVID Era: Handle with Care!

“…Simplified versions of HRT as proposed by Heinicke et al 4 in their article if rehershed enough, seems workable, sustainable, and acceptable solution.…”

“…Bringing change with habit reversal training (HRT) methods consisting of three elements, (1) awareness training, (2) competing response training, and (3) social support training (for children mainly), is deemed highly effective in 35 of 39 studies included in a recently published review seems promising. 4 Use of camera on head gear, CCTV monitoring and real-time call back from monitor, use of full face shield, and use of Powered air purifier Respirator (PAPR) with hood covering face are other alternatives one can think of preventing hand touching face, but cost may prohibit its applicability.…”