Dr Marco Bardus

Department of Applied Health Sciences
Assistant Professor in Public Health

Contact details

Telephone: +44 (0) 7379 513450
Email: m.bardus@bham.ac.uk
Twitter: @marcobardus

Address: Department of Applied Health Sciences
Murray Learning Centre
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Dr Marco Bardus' research in health communication aims to understand how to effectively influence behaviours to prevent public health and environmental health issues.

His research focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating public health interventions using a strategic social marketing framework. His research is placed at the intersection between social and behaviour change communication, risk communication, and behavioural science.

Dr Bardus designed interventions addressing physical activity, weight control, cancer screening, smoking cessation, family planning, COVID-19 prevention, as well as reducing, reusing, or recycling solid waste, in various countries with low resource settings.

He is particularly interested in leveraging the persuasive nature of digital technologies such as mobile apps, social media, and wearables to support health promotion and behaviour change, while considering the role of eHealth literacy as a social determinant of health.

Qualifications

PhD in Communication Sciences, focus on Health Communication, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland, 2012
MA in Corporate Public Relations, University of Udine in Gorizia, Italy, 2007
BA in Public Relations, University of Udine in Gorizia, Italy, 2004

Biography

Marco is an Assistant Professor in Public Health at the Institute of Applied Health Research (as of June 2022). Before joining Birmingham, he worked as a Lecturer in Health, at Leeds Trinity University (November 2021-May 2022) and as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut (January 2016-2022).

While in Beirut, he expanded his research and teaching experience in social marketing and health communication addressing relevant public health and environmental health issues, working with governmental and non-governmental organisations at the national level.

Before moving to Lebanon, he was a research fellow at the University of Exeter Medical School, supported by an Early Postdoc mobility grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation. In Exeter he developed systematic reviews of the literature and of mobile apps for weight management.

Between 2008 and 2012, Marco gained significant experience as a researcher in Health communication and as a teaching assistant in Social Marketing, working towards his Ph.D. thesis under the supervision of Prof. L. Suzanne Suggs. His dissertation investigated the use of emails and SMS to promote physical activity in UK workplaces. As part of his thesis’ fieldwork, in 2011, he spent a semester at the University of Nottingham, supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Research

Topical areas: behaviour change to prevent chronic conditions, pro-environmental behaviours to improve planetary health.

Populations: children, young people, and families; working-age adults; older adults.

Settings: workplaces, community-based organisations, clinics, or homes, including informal tented settlements, refugee camps.

Cross-cutting themes: digital health promotion, eHealth literacy, health inequalities, social marketing strategic planning, implementation research.

Other activities

Member of the European Social Marketing Association (ESMA) and International Social Marketing Association (iSMA)– Since 2012; ESMA representative in Lebanon (2018-2021); iSMA representative in the Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change (since June 2022).
Editor of the section “Planning and evaluation tools and approaches” of the Palgrave Encyclopedia of Social Marketing, Springer Nature (since January 2020).

Publications

Highlight publications

Bardus, M, van Beurden, SB, Smith, JR & Abraham, C 2016, 'A review and content analysis of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality, and change techniques in the most popular commercial apps for weight management', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 13, no. 1, 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-016-0359-9

Bardus, M, Daccache, M, Maalouf, N, Al Sarih, R & Elhajj, I 2022, 'Data management and privacy policy of COVID-19 contact-tracing apps: systematic review and content analysis', JMIR mHealth and uHealth, vol. 10, no. 7, e35195. https://doi.org/10.2196/35195

Bardus, M, El Rassi, R, Chahrour, M, Akl, EW, Raslan, AS, Meho, LI & Akl, EA 2020, 'The use of social media to increase the impact of health research: Systematic review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 22, no. 7, e15607. https://doi.org/10.2196/15607

Benny, ME, Kabakian-Khasholian, T, El-Jardali, F & Bardus, M 2021, 'Application of the ehealth literacy model in digital health interventions: scoping review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 23, no. 6, e23473. https://doi.org/10.2196/23473

Terhorst, Y, Philippi, P, Sander, LB, Schultchen, D, Paganini, S, Bardus, M, Santo, K, Knitza, J, Machado, GC, Schoeppe, S, Bauereiß, N, Portenhauser, A, Domhardt, M, Walter, B, Krusche, M, Baumeister, H & Messner, EM 2020, 'Validation of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS)', PLoS ONE, vol. 15, no. 11 November, e0241480. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241480

Recent publications

Article

Perry, BI, Osimo, EF, Si, S, Hitchins, KVB, Lewis, C, Laws, B, Griffin, SJ, Khandaker, GM, Murray, GK, Shiers, D, Chew-Graham, CA, Jones, PB, Denniston, AK, Bardus, M, Jowett, S, Walsh, AEL, Arshad, S, Formanek, T, Pillinger, T, McCutcheon, RA, Holt, RIG, Heyse, S, Rambousek, M, Whiteley, K, Upthegrove, R, Ensor, J & The PsyMetRiC Network 2026, 'Cardiometabolic prediction models for young people with psychosis spectrum disorders in the UK (PsyMetRiC 2.0): a retrospective, multicohort clinical prediction model study', The Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(25)00398-0

Habib-Mourad, C, Maliha, C, Kassis, A, Tailfeathers, D, Bardus, M, Haji, E, AlTarazi, L, Totah, S & Hwalla, N 2026, 'Successes and challenges of an online based nutrition awareness program in 9-11-year-old children in four Arab countries: The Ajyal Salima digital platform qualitative study', PLOS One, vol. 21, no. 3, e0325583. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325583

Fares, E-J, Abou Mourad, M, Bardus, M, Zaki, S & Chamieh, MC 2025, 'Association between physical activity, socioeconomic status, blood biomarkers, and diet in lebanese adults', PLOS One, vol. 20, no. 4, e0321884. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321884

Bardus, M, Martin, J & Ward, D 2025, 'Generative AI tools among applied health research students: the GROWL initiative', Education in Practice, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 84-94. <https://bham.sharepoint.com/sites/aseddev/Shared%20Documents/EiP%20Journal%20Vol%206.1/08_Bardus_EIP_6.1%20Spring%202025.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=Q0ajqQ>

Simba And CoMICs, Elhariry, M, Malhotra, K, Goyal, K, Bardus, M & Kempegowda, P 2024, 'A SIMBA CoMICs Initiative to Cocreating and Disseminating Evidence-Based, Peer-Reviewed Short Videos on Social Media: Mixed Methods Prospective Study', JMIR Medical Education, vol. 10, e52924. https://doi.org/10.2196/52924

Paper

Alghamdi, A, Bardus, M & Elmusharaf, K 2026, 'Are GCC Countries Integrating Digital Technologies into Physical Activity Policy? A Policy Analysis', Paper presented at Towards Unity for Health TUFH Conference 2026 Philippines, Manila, Philippines, 4/08/26 - 7/08/26.

Bardus, M, Sieverding, M, R. Lteif, M, Jaber, S & Abdulrahim, S 2026, 'Co-creating and evaluating a Telegram-based chatbot to encourage family planning among vulnerable women in Lebanon', Paper presented at Building Capability in Behavioural Research 2026 Conference, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 30/06/26 - 30/06/26.

Bardus, M, Helmes-Guizon, A, Bardfield, LS, Evans, WD, Rundle-Thiele, S & French, J 2026, 'Generative AI for Creative Development: From Briefs to Action', Paper presented at 7th European Social Marketing Conference (ESMC 2026) Montpellier 2026, Montpellier, France, 8/07/26 - 10/07/26.

Bardus, M, Ward, D, Laws, E, Webb, C, Cooner, T, Miller, R, van Ede, A, Bruijnzeels, M, Spruit, M, van Dijk, B & Millar, R 2026, 'How can we use AI to integrate community health and social care responsibly and ethically?', Paper presented at 26th International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC26), Birmingham, United Kingdom, 13/04/26 - 15/04/26.

Bardus, M, Rundle-Thiele, S, French, J, Helmes-Guizon, A & Evans, WD 2025, 'ChatGPT as a Partner in Social Marketing Creative Production', Paper presented at 9th World Social Marketing Conference, Alicante, Spain, 5/11/25 - 7/11/25.

Sun, Z, Bardus, M, Alpion, G, Greenfield, S & Shah, K 2025, 'Co-Designing a Digital Campaign to Tackle Diabetes Stigma with Stakeholders', Paper presented at 9th World Social Marketing Conference, Alicante, Spain, 5/11/25 - 7/11/25.

Bardus, M, Sieverding, M, R. Lteif, M, Jaber, S & Abdulrahim, S 2025, 'Promoting Family Planning via mHealth among Vulnerable Groups in Lebanon', Paper presented at 9th World Social Marketing Conference, Alicante, Spain, 5/11/25 - 7/11/25.

Poster

Turner, AM, Sajid, A, Luzewski, L & Bardus, M 2026, 'ASM@: A co-designed digital prototype for accessible asthma self-management', European Respiratory Society ERS Congress 2026, Barcelona, Spain, 5/09/26 - 9/09/26.

Review article

Ballavenuto, JMA, Tongtip, N, Fischer, NLS & Bardus, M 2025, 'Wearable devices, ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Maturitas, vol. 193, 108186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.108186

Evans, WD, Bardus, M & French, J 2024, 'A Vision of the Future: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Strategic Social Marketing', Businesses, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 196-210. https://doi.org/10.3390/businesses4020013

View all publications in research portal