Alistair A. Thorpe

Alistair A. Thorpe, PhD

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Population Health Sciences

Academic Office Information

alistair.thorpe@hsc.utah.edu

Alistair Thorpe, PhD

Dr. Alistair Thorpe is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Health System Innovation and Research at the University of Utah Intermountain Health Department of Population Health Sciences within the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. As a behavioral scientist in population health, Dr. Thorpe investigates the psychological barriers (e.g., cognitive biases) that can make it difficult for people to make decisions about their health and examines why some ways of sharing health information do not work well for patients and clinicians. Using this knowledge, he develops and tests strategies for providing health information in ways that are more meaningful and memorable to help people make informed health decisions.

Dr. Thorpe is experienced in using a wide range of methodologies and statistical approaches to conduct research and assess the reliability and validity of his findings. While his primary research focus is on using behavioral strategies to reduce antibiotic overuse by patients and prescribers, he has also applied his expertise across various other medical contexts (e.g., paediatric cardiology, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes).

Education History

Research Fellow University College London
 Research Fellow
University of Utah School of Medicine
 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Doctoral Training University of Essex
 PhD
University of Essex
 BSc (Hons)

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Imlay H, Thorpe A, Vaughn VM (2024). When antimicrobial stewardship begins with microbiological test requests: the case of asymptomatic bacteriuria. Curr Opin Infect Dis. (Read full article)
  2. Thorpe A, Fagerlin A, Drews FA, Shoemaker H, Brecha FS, Scherer LD (2024). Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake: an online three-wave survey study of US adults. BMC Infect Dis, 24(1), 304. (Read full article)
  3. French ML, Christensen JT, Estabrooks PA, Hernandez AM, Metos JM, Marcus RL, Thorpe A, Dvorak TE, Jordan KC (2024). Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Bilingual Nutrition Education Program in Partnership with a Mobile Health Unit. Nutrients, 16(5). (Read full article)
  4. Thorpe A, Gurmankin Levy A, Scherer LD, Scherer AM, Drews FA, Butler JM, Fagerlin A (2023). Impact of prior COVID-19 infection on perceptions about the benefit and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Am J Infect Control, 52(1), 125-128. (Read full article)
  5. Sirota M, Habersaat KB, Betsch C, Bonga DL, Borek A, Buckel A, Butler R, Byrne-Davis L, Caudell M, Charani E, Geiger M, Gross M, Hart J, Kostopoulou O, Krockow EM, Likki T, Lo Fo Wong D, Santana AP, Sievert EDC, Theodoropoulou A, Thorpe A, Wanat M, Bhm R (2024). We must harness the power of social and behavioural science against the growing pandemic of antimicrobial resistance. Nat Hum Behav, 8(1), 11-13. (Read full article)
  6. Butler JM, Wang X, Riddoch M, Thorpe A, Stevens V, Scherer LD, Drews FA, Shoemaker H, Fagerlin A (2023). Veterans and Nonveterans Coping With Stress During 4 Months of COVID-19. Ann Fam Med, 21(6), 508-516. (Read full article)
  7. Thorpe A, Delaney RK, Pinto NM, Ozanne EM, Pershing ML, Hansen LM, Lambert LM, Fagerlin A (2023). Parents' Psychological and Decision-Making Outcomes following Prenatal Diagnosis with Complex Congenital Heart Defect: An Exploratory Study. MDM Policy Pract, 8(2), 23814683231204551. (Read full article)
  8. Shoemaker HE, Thorpe A, Stevens V, Butler JM, Drews FA, Burpo N, Scherer LD, Fagerlin A (2023). Telehealth Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Veterans and Nonveterans: Web-Based Survey Study. JMIR Form Res, 7, e42217. (Read full article)
  9. Thorpe A, Zhong L, Scherer LD, Drews FA, Shoemaker H, Fagerlin A (2023). Demographic, structural, and psychological predictors of risk-increasing and mask wearing behaviors among US adults between December 2020-March 2021. Patient Educ Couns, 114, 107792. (Read full article)
  10. Scharnetzki E, Waterston L, Scherer AM, Thorpe A, Fagerlin A, Han PKJ (2023). Effects of Prosocial and Hope-Promoting Communication Strategies on COVID-19 Worry and Intentions for Risk-Reducing Behaviors and Vaccination: Experimental Study. JMIR Form Res, 7, e41959. (Read full article)
  11. Delaney RK, Thorpe A, Pinto NM, Ozanne EM, Pershing ML, Hansen LM, Lambert LM, Tanner K, Fagerlin A (2023). Parents' quality of life and health after treatment decision for a fetus with severe congenital heart defect. J Pediatr Nurs, 70, 20-25. (Read full article)
  12. Levy AG, Thorpe A, Scherer LD, Scherer AM, Butler JM, Shoemaker H, Fagerlin A (2023). Parental Nonadherence to Health Policy Recommendations for Prevention of COVID-19 Transmission Among Children. JAMA Netw Open, 6(3), e231587. (Read full article)
  13. Levy AG, Thorpe A, Scherer LD, Scherer AM, Drews FA, Butler JM, Burpo N, Shoemaker H, Stevens V, Fagerlin A (2022). Misrepresentation and Nonadherence Regarding COVID-19 Public Health Measures. JAMA Netw Open, 5(10), e2235837. (Read full article)
  14. Thorpe A, Fagerlin A, Butler J, Stevens V, Drews FA, Shoemaker H, Riddoch MS, Scherer LD (2022). Communicating about COVID-19 vaccine development and safety. PLoS One, 17(8), e0272426. (Read full article)
  15. Thorpe A, Fagerlin A, Drews FA, Butler J, Stevens V, Riddoch MS, Scherer LD (2022). Communications to Promote Interest and Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines. Am J Health Promot, 36(6), 976-986. (Read full article)
  16. Thorpe A, Fagerlin A, Drews FA, Shoemaker H, Scherer LD (2022). Self-reported health behaviors and risk perceptions following the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the USA: an online survey study. Public Health, 208, 68-71. (Read full article)
  17. Delaney RK, Pinto NM, Ozanne EM, Stark LA, Pershing ML, Thorpe A, Witteman HO, Thokala P, Lambert LM, Hansen LM, Greene TH, Fagerlin A (2021). Study protocol for a randomised clinical trial of a decision aid and values clarification method for parents of a fetus or neonate diagnosed with a life-threatening congenital heart defect. BMJ Open, 11(12), e055455. (Read full article)
  18. Thorpe A, Sirota M, Orbell S, Juanchich M (2021). Effect of information on reducing inappropriate expectations and requests for antibiotics. Br J Psychol, 112(3), 804-827. (Read full article)
  19. Han PKJ, Scharnetzki E, Scherer AM, Thorpe A, Lary C, Waterston LB, Fagerlin A, Dieckmann NF (2021). Communicating Scientific Uncertainty About the COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Experimental Study of an Uncertainty-Normalizing Strategy. J Med Internet Res, 23(4), e27832. (Read full article)
  20. Thorpe A, Scherer AM, Han PKJ, Burpo N, Shaffer V, Scherer L, Fagerlin A (2021). Exposure to Common Geographic COVID-19 Prevalence Maps and Public Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Behavioral Intentions. JAMA Netw Open, 4(1), e2033538. (Read full article)
  21. Thorpe A, Sirota M, Juanchich M, Orbell S (2020). Action bias in the public's clinically inappropriate expectations for antibiotics. J Exp Psychol Appl, 26(3), 422-431. (Read full article)
  22. Thorpe A, Sirota M, Juanchich M, Orbell S (2020). 'Always take your doctor's advice': Does trust moderate the effect of information on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing expectations? Br J Health Psychol, 25(2), 358-376. (Read full article)
  23. Galli G, Sirota M, Gruber MJ, Ivanof BE, Ganesh J, Materassi M, Thorpe A, Loaiza V, Cappelletti M, Craik FIM (2018). Learning facts during aging: the benefits of curiosity. Exp Aging Res, 44(4), 311-328. (Read full article)