scholarly journals Embodied Conversational Agent Appearance for Health Assessment of Older Adults: Explorative Study

10.2196/19987 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. e19987
Author(s):  
Silke ter Stal ◽  
Marijke Broekhuis ◽  
Lex van Velsen ◽  
Hermie Hermens ◽  
Monique Tabak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Embodied Conversational Agent ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Agent Characteristics

Background Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) have great potential for health apps but are rarely investigated as part of such apps. To promote the uptake of health apps, we need to understand how the design of ECAs can influence the preferences, motivation, and behavior of users. Objective This is one of the first studies that investigates how the appearance of an ECA implemented within a health app affects users’ likeliness of following agent advice, their perception of agent characteristics, and their feeling of rapport. In addition, we assessed usability and intention to use. Methods The ECA was implemented within a frailty assessment app in which three health questionnaires were translated into agent dialogues. In a within-subject experiment, questionnaire dialogues were randomly offered by a young female agent or an older male agent. Participants were asked to think aloud during interaction. Afterward, they rated the likeliness of following the agent’s advice, agent characteristics, rapport, usability, and intention to use and participated in a semistructured interview. Results A total of 20 older adults (72.2 [SD 3.5] years) participated. The older male agent was perceived as more authoritative than the young female agent (P=.03), but no other differences were found. The app scored high on usability (median 6.1) and intention to use (median 6.0). Participants indicated they did not see an added value of the agent to the health app. Conclusions Agent age and gender little influence users’ impressions after short interaction but remain important at first glance to lower the threshold to interact with the agent. Thus, it is important to take the design of ECAs into account when implementing them into health apps.

scholarly journals Embodied Conversational Agent Appearance for Health Assessment of Older Adults: Explorative Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke ter Stal ◽  
Marijke Broekhuis ◽  
Lex van Velsen ◽  
Hermie Hermens ◽  
Monique Tabak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Embodied Conversational Agent ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Agent Characteristics

BACKGROUND Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) have great potential for health apps but are rarely investigated as part of such apps. To promote the uptake of health apps, we need to understand how the design of ECAs can influence the preferences, motivation, and behavior of users. OBJECTIVE This is one of the first studies that investigates how the appearance of an ECA implemented within a health app affects users’ likeliness of following agent advice, their perception of agent characteristics, and their feeling of rapport. In addition, we assessed usability and intention to use. METHODS The ECA was implemented within a frailty assessment app in which three health questionnaires were translated into agent dialogues. In a within-subject experiment, questionnaire dialogues were randomly offered by a young female agent or an older male agent. Participants were asked to think aloud during interaction. Afterward, they rated the likeliness of following the agent’s advice, agent characteristics, rapport, usability, and intention to use and participated in a semistructured interview. RESULTS A total of 20 older adults (72.2 [SD 3.5] years) participated. The older male agent was perceived as more authoritative than the young female agent (<i>P</i>=.03), but no other differences were found. The app scored high on usability (median 6.1) and intention to use (median 6.0). Participants indicated they did not see an added value of the agent to the health app. CONCLUSIONS Agent age and gender little influence users’ impressions after short interaction but remain important at first glance to lower the threshold to interact with the agent. Thus, it is important to take the design of ECAs into account when implementing them into health apps.

Closing the Loop in Computer Agent/Patient Communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 711-715
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Effective Teacher ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Communication Techniques ◽  
Improve Instruction

While patient-centered communication supports patient self-care, providers rarely have enough time to consistently use patient- centered communication techniques. Technology has potential to support patient-centered communication, but frequently older adults prefer face-to-face communication with providers. Conversational agents (CAs) may support provider communication with older adults by emulating best practices from face-to-face communication. We investigated older adults’ response to a prototype CA communication system that served as a virtual provider and presented medication instructions using teachback, a recommended best practice that involves asking patients questions to ‘close the communication loop’. Older adults were told how to take medications by a CA who used (or did not use) teachback, and then were interviewed. Older adults were open to interacting with the CA and thought it would help support self-care. They thought the CA was a more effective teacher when using teachback and that this interactive strategy helped them remember the instructions. However, teachback did not improve instruction memory.

scholarly journals Examining Protection Motivation and Network Externality Perspective Regarding the Continued Intention to Use M-Health Apps

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5684
Author(s):  
Yumei Luo ◽  
Guiping Wang ◽  
Yuwei Li ◽  
Qiongwei Ye
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Network Externalities ◽  
Network Externality ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Protection Motivation ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Perceived Vulnerability ◽  
Response Efficacy ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Direct Network

M-health apps have developed rapidly and are widely accepted, but users’ continued intention to use m-health apps has not been fully explored. This study was designed to obtain a better understanding of users’ continued intention to use m-health apps. We developed a theoretical model by incorporating the protection motivation theory and network externalities and conducted an empirical study of a 368-respondent sample. The results showed that: (1) perceived vulnerability has a direct impact on users’ self-efficacy and response efficacy; (2) self-efficacy and response efficacy have a direct impact on users’ attitudes and continued intention; (3) network externalities affect users’ attitudes and continued intention, among which direct network externalities have an indirect impact on users’ continued intention through attitude; and (4) the impacts of self-efficacy, response efficacy, and indirect network externalities on continued intention are partially meditated by attitudes.

scholarly journals Self-perception of oral health in older adults from an urban population in Lisbon, Portugal

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Carvalho ◽  
Ana Cristina Manso ◽  
Ana Escoval ◽  
Francisco Salvado ◽  
Carla Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Cronbach’S Alpha ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Cronbach's Alpha

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze if the self-perception of oral health in the urban context is associated with sociodemographic factors that interfere in the life quality of oral health. METHODS Cross-sectional study with convenience sample of older individuals (65 years old or more) enrolled in the Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde de Lisboa Norte (ACES Lisboa Norte – Health Centers Groupings North Lisbon). The self-perception of oral health and associated life quality was evaluated by the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index and the individuals were classified according to sociodemographic characteristics. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated by Cronbach’s alpha (α). Later, we used binary logistic regression models to characterize the factors associated with the self-perception of oral health, considering the sociodemographic variables and the older adults’ clinical conditions of oral health and establishing the crude and adjusted (to age) odds ratios and their 90% confidence intervals. RESULTS A total of 369 older adults participated in this study, with an average age of 74.2 years (SD = 6.75); 62.9% were female. On average, the index was moderated, with tendency to be high: 32.9 (SD = 3.6; 12-36 interval). The Cronbach’s alpha was high: 0.805. Age, marital status, and the last dental appointment were the factors significantly associated with self-perception of oral health. CONCLUSIONS The study shows that these individuals have a moderate, with tendency to high, self-perception of oral health. The self-perception of oral health assessment allowed us to identify the main associated sociodemographic factors. This instrument can help guiding planning strategies and oral health promotion directed toward a better life quality for this population group.

scholarly journals User Requirements Analysis of an Embodied Conversational Agent for Coaching Older Adults to Choose Active and Healthy Ageing Behaviors during the Transition to Retirement: A Cross-National User Centered Design Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9681
Author(s):  
Sara Santini ◽  
Vera Stara ◽  
Flavia Galassi ◽  
Alessandra Merizzi ◽  
Cornelia Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
End Users ◽  
Healthy Ageing ◽  
User Requirements ◽  
Conversational Agent ◽  
Embodied Conversational Agent ◽  
Active And Healthy Ageing ◽  
Transition To Retirement

Background: Retirement is recognized as a factor influencing the ageing process. Today, virtual health coaching systems can play a pivotal role in supporting older adults’ active and healthy ageing. This study wants to answer two research questions: (1) What are the user requirements of a virtual coach (VC) based on an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) for motivating older adults in transition to retirement to adopt a healthy lifestyle? (2) How could a VC address the active and healthy ageing dimensions, even during COVID-19 times? Methods: Two-wave focus-groups with 60 end-users aged 55 and over and 27 follow-up telephone interviews were carried out in Austria, Italy and the Netherlands in 2019–2020. Qualitative data were analysed by way of framework analysis. Results: End-users suggest the VC should motivate older workers and retirees to practice physical activity, maintain social contacts and emotional well-being. The ECA should be reactive, customizable, expressive, sympathetic, not directive nor patronizing, with a pleasant and motivating language. The COVID-19 outbreak increased the users’ need for functions boosting community relationships and promoting emotional well-being. Conclusions: the VC can address the active and healthy ageing paradigm by increasing the chances of doing low-cost healthy activities at any time and in any place.

scholarly journals Conversational Agents for the Elderly, the Guardian Platform

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andressa Ferreira ◽  
Fran Oliveira ◽  
Adson Damasceno ◽  
Mariela Cortés
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Intelligent Agents ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
System Usability ◽  
The Guardian

With increasing of life expectancy innovative solutions that ensurewell-being of the seniors become most needed. In this context, inorder to deny the main difficulties reported by the senior public withthe use of mobile devices, we propose a technology entirely basedon voice interactions and we name this project of Guardian. Theessence of the project is to provide, through a mobile application, aplatform with a set of intelligent agents focused on the well-beingof the older adults. In this work the mains objectives to analyze andevaluate the usability of the Guardian and the cultural impacts ofthe technology. For the data collection, video recordings were used,a questionnaire that identifies the socio-technological profile of theresearch participants and the system usability scale (SUS).

Use and effect of web-based embodied conversational agents for improving eating behavior and decreasing loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: A randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lean L. Kramer ◽  
Lex van Velsen ◽  
Jenna L. Clark ◽  
Bob C. Mulder ◽  
Emely de Vet
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Embodied Conversational Agents ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) have been proposed as a promising interaction modality for the delivery of programs focused on promoting lifestyle changes. However, it is not understood which factors influence use of an ECA and their health effects. OBJECTIVE We aim to (1) identify whether ECAs can persuade community-dwelling older adults to change their dietary behavior and whether ECAs use can decrease loneliness, (2) test these pathways to effects, and (3) understand the use of an ECA. METHODS The web-based eHealth app PACO is a fully automated 8-week intervention in which 2 ECAs engage older adults in dialogue to motivate them to change their dietary behavior and decrease their loneliness. PACO was developed via a human-centered and stakeholder-inclusive design approach and incorporates Self-determination Theory and various behavior change techniques For this study, an unblinded web-based randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were recruited via social media, an online panel, flyers and advertorials. The intervention group received access to the PACO service for eight weeks. The waitlist group received PACO after waiting for four weeks. The primary outcomes, eating behavior and loneliness, were assessed via self-assesed online questionnaires at intake, waitlist, after 4 weeks, and after eight weeks. In addition, the primary outcome—use—was assessed via data logs. Secondary outcomes were measured at the same times, via questionnaires or an optional interview. RESULTS In total, 32 participants completed the intervention. We found a significant correlation between use in minutes on the one hand, and perceived usefulness (r = .39, P =.030) and enjoyment on the other (r = .38, P = .032). However, these did not predict use in the full regression model (F(2,29) = 1.98, P = .16, R2 = .12). Additionally, PACO use did not lead to improvements in eating behavior (χ2(2) = .34, = .85) or a decrease in loneliness (χ2(2) = .02, = .99). CONCLUSIONS Our study did not provide any concluding evidence about factors that are linked to the use or health effects of ECAs. Future service design could benefit from either creating a functional design catered towards the predominant stage of the targeted population, or by personalizing the service based on an intake in which the end-user’s stage is determined. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04510883; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04510883 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/22186

Embodied Conversation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1091-1107
Author(s):  
Andrej Zgank ◽  
Izidor Mlakar ◽  
Uros Berglez ◽  
Danilo Zimsek ◽  
Matej Borko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Automatic Speech Recognition ◽  
Speech Synthesis ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Embodied Conversational Agent ◽  
Computer Interfaces ◽  
Human Computer Interfaces ◽  
Text To Speech Synthesis ◽  
High Level

The chapter presents an overview of human-computer interfaces, which are a crucial element of an ambient intelligence solution. The focus is given to the embodied conversational agents, which are needed to communicate with users in a most natural way. Different input and output modalities, with supporting methods, to process the captured information (e.g., automatic speech recognition, gesture recognition, natural language processing, dialog processing, text to speech synthesis, etc.), have the crucial role to provide the high level of quality of experience to the user. As an example, usage of embodied conversational agent for e-Health domain is proposed.

Alberta Rating Index for Apps (ARIA): Helping older adults find acceptable mobile health apps

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (s) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
P. Azad-Khaneghah ◽  
M. Roduta Roberts ◽  
E. Stroulia ◽  
M. Ferguson-Pell ◽  
L. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps
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