Overview
Behavior change is central to improving population health, yet moving people to adopt and sustain healthy habits remains a persistent challenge. This article synthesizes a scoping review that examines the Fogg Behavior Model (FBM) and its application in health-related interventions. The FBM, proposed by Dr. BJ Fogg, emphasizes three core elements—motivation, ability, and prompts—as the essential triad for triggering a target behavior at the right moment.
What the review covered
The study screened databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and PsycINFO to identify health interventions guided by the FBM. Grey literature and conference materials were also explored. Eligible studies applied the FBM to health behaviors and reported outcomes. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the SAGER sex-and-gender framework, data were narratively synthesized to map where and how FBM has been used in health settings.
Key findings by health domain
The scoping review identified six studies (2016–2024) spanning sexual and reproductive health, vaccination and disease prevention, chronic disease management, general wellness, and healthcare adherence. Most trials occurred in the United States, with some contributions from Iran and China. Designs were predominantly randomized controlled trials, with several non-randomized approaches also represented. Across domains, the FBM’s trio—motivation, ability, prompts—guided intervention design.
Motivation
Interventions leveraged anticipation, sensation, and belonging. Examples include promoting vaginal birth after cesarean by highlighting benefits and risks, increasing HPV vaccination intent, and framing health actions as socially normative through family discussions and peer support networks. These motivational strategies underscored how social contexts and anticipated health outcomes can energize behavior change.
Ability
Reducing effort and barriers was a cross-cutting focus. Schemes included flexible scheduling, financial accessibility, simplification of educational content, and the provision of devices when needed to ensure accessibility. These efforts addressed time, money, mental effort, physical effort, and routine—core elements of the FBM’s Ability chain—so participants could realistically perform the target behavior within their contexts.
Prompts
Prompts encompassed reminders, calls to action, and environmental cues. Telegram messages, SMS reminders, and platform alerts reinforced key messages; triggers nudged participants toward appointments or goal setting; and environmental cues embedded prompts within daily routines to sustain engagement.
Effectiveness and limitations
Across studies, FBM-informed interventions showed statistically significant improvements in outcomes such as vaccination uptake, diabetes self-management, parental nutrition knowledge and behaviors, gestational weight management, and timely birth decisions. While promising, results varied by study design, outcome measures, and delivery mode (in-person, digital, or hybrid). A notable limitation was the lack of long-term follow-up, which constrains conclusions about durability of behavior change.
Gender analyses were notably scarce. Although several studies targeted women or pregnant populations, none provided sex- or gender-disaggregated outcomes. This gap highlights a need for more equitable research that examines whether motivation, ability, and prompts operate differently across genders and social groups.
Implications for practice and research
The FBM offers a practical, scalable framework for health interventions, especially in digital and blended formats. For policymakers and implementers, integrating FBM components into program design can enhance actionability and uptake. Future research should pursue longitudinal designs, comparative analyses with other models (e.g., COM-B, HBM), and deliberate sex- and gender-based analyses. Expanding FBM work to diverse populations and LMIC contexts will improve generalizability and equity.
Conclusion
The scoping review supports the FBM as a valuable, actionable framework for health behavior change across multiple domains. Its emphasis on simultaneously optimizing motivation, lowering barriers to ability, and deploying timely prompts aligns well with the realities of health interventions. However, more rigorous, inclusive, and comparative research is needed to fully realize its potential in public health practice.
Keywords for context
FBM, Fogg Behavior Model, health behavior change, motivation, ability, prompts, digital health, public health interventions, scoping review
