Our evidence-based interventions yield genuine behavioural change.
Founded and led by Professor Rob Horne (UCL Professor of Behavioural Medicine), Spoonful of Sugar applies behavioural science to help patients and healthcare professionals to get the best from effective treatments by enhancing adherence and optimising health outcomes.
We collaborate with clients who value a patient-centric approach to improving adherence and engagement.
Drugs don’t work in patients who don’t take them.
Former US Surgeon General, C Everett Koop
Our proven behavioural science tools and approaches are based on 25 years of world-leading research. This research has informed national and international guidelines, policies and reports regarding adherence, including the NICE Medicines Adherence Guidelines, a WHO adherence report and British HIV guidelines.
Medicines adherence: involving patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence clinical guideline. [CG76]
Understanding patients’ adherence-related beliefs about medicines prescribed for long-term conditions: a meta-analytic review of the Necessity-Concerns Framework. PLoS ONE, 8(12)
Supporting Adherence to Medicines for Long-Term Conditions. European Psychologist, 24(1), 82-96.
Decision about medicines: scientific evidence in context. Academy of Medical Sciences. (invited paper)
First, we understand the issue or challenge. Then, using our proven frameworks and findings from our powerful Behavioural Insights Research, we create bespoke solutions and effective interventions. Applying personalised approaches, we address the perceptions and practicalities influencing individuals’ motivation and ability to adhere to treatment and health advice. We motivate and enable behaviour change, improving adherence, and ultimately health and economic outcomes.
We can help those in healthcare who face behavioural change challenges. We offer support to those who need to understand current behaviours and drive change to a new paradigm. While many of our clients come from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, our solutions can support other organisations too.
Our approaches can and have been applied across a wide range of long-term conditions including asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and infectious diseases, as well as in cancers and rare diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
As a UCL business company, we combine the power of world-class research in behavioural science with the experience of developing pragmatic programmes in the healthcare sector. This means we understand the challenges of – and develop meaningful solutions aimed at – changing treatment behaviour.
We have unrivalled international links and collaborations across the full spectrum of behavioural science. We draw upon expertise specific to the needs of each project to ensure you have the best team the world of behavioural science can offer.
CEO
Patient Support and Clinical Services Lead
View bioThe core team is enhanced by a matrix team of international consultants in behavioural medicine.
We’re looking for behavioural scientists, with a passion for harnessing their skills to create and drive behaviour-change programmes designed to make the most of medicines. In return, we offer the opportunity to work with world-class experts in a fast-growing and ambitious company with a strong vision. We’d love to hear from you!