scholarly journals Effort-Optimized Intervention Model: Framework for Building and Analyzing Digital Interventions That Require Minimal Effort for Health-Related Gains

10.2196/24905 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. e24905
Author(s):  
Amit Baumel ◽  
Frederick J Muench

The majority of digital health interventions lean on the promise of bringing health and self-care into people’s homes and hands. However, these interventions are delivered while people are in their triggering environments, which places competing demands on their attention. Individuals struggling to change or learn a new behavior have to work hard to achieve even a minor change because of the automatic forces propelling them back to their habitual behaviors. We posit that effort and burden should be explored at the outset and throughout the digital intervention development process as a core therapeutic mechanism, beyond the context of design or user experience testing. In effort-focused conceptualization, it is assumed that, even though goals are rational and people want to achieve them, they are overtaken by competing cognitive, emotional, and environmental processes. We offer the term effort-optimized intervention to describe interventions that focus on user engagement in the face of competing demands. We describe design components based on a 3-step process for planning an effort-optimized intervention: (1) nurturing effortless cognitive and environmental salience to help people keep effort-related goals prominent despite competition; (2) making it as effortless as possible to complete therapeutic activities to avoid ego depletion and self-efficacy reduction; and (3) turning the necessary effortful activities into sustainable assets. We conclude by presenting an example of designing a digital health intervention based on the effort-optimized intervention model.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Baumel ◽  
Frederick J. Muench

UNSTRUCTURED The majority of digital health interventions lean on the promise of bringing health and self-care into people’s homes and hands. However, these interventions are delivered while people are in their triggering environment, which places competing demands on their attention. Individuals struggling to change or learn a new behavior have to work hard to achieve even a minor change because of the automatic forces propelling them back to their habitual behaviors. This paper posits that effort and burden should be explored at the outset and throughout the digital intervention development process as a core therapeutic mechanism, beyond the context of design or user experience testing. An effort-focused conceptualization assumes that, even though goals are rational and people want to achieve them, they are overtaken by competing cognitive, emotional and environmental processes. We offer the term “effort-optimized intervention” (EOI) to describe interventions that focus on user engagement in the face of competing demands. We describe design components based on a three-step process in the planning of an EOI sequence: 1) nurturing effortless cognitive and environmental salience to help people keep effort-related goals prominent despite competition; 2) making it as effortless as possible to complete therapeutic activities to avoid ego depletion and self-efficacy reductions; and 3) turning the necessary effortful activities into sustainable assets. We conclude by presenting an example of designing a digital health intervention based on the EOI model.


Diabetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1320-P
Author(s):  
MANSUR SHOMALI ◽  
MALINDA PEEPLES

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Harp ◽  
Michael D. Dodd ◽  
Maital Neta

Cognitive resources are needed for successful executive functioning; when resources are limited due to competing demands, task performance is impaired. Although some tasks are accomplished with relatively few resources (e.g., judging trustworthiness and emotion in others), others are more complex. Specifically, in the face of emotional ambiguity (i.e., stimuli that do not convey a clear positive or negative meaning, such as a surprised facial expression), our decisions to approach or avoid appear to rely on the availability of top-down regulatory resources to overcome an initial negativity bias. Cognition-emotion interaction theories (e.g., dual competition) posit that emotion and executive processing rely on shared resources, suggesting that competing demands would hamper these regulatory responses towards emotional ambiguity. Here, we employed a 2x2 design to investigate the effects of load (low versus high) and domain (non-emotional vs. emotional) on evaluations of surprised faces. As predicted, there were domain-specific effects, such that categorizations of surprise were more negative for emotional than non-emotional loads. Consistent with prior work, low load (regardless of domain; i.e., domain-general) was associated with greater response competition on trials resulting in a positive categorization, showing that positive categorizations are characterized by an initial negativity. This effect was diminished under high load. These results lend insight into the resources supporting a positive valence bias by demonstrating that emotion-specific regulatory resources are important for overriding the initial negativity in response to emotional ambiguity. However, both domain-general and domain-specific loads impact the underlying processes.


Author(s):  
Kumari Anshu ◽  
Loveleen Gaur ◽  
Arun Solanki

Chatbot has emerged as a significant resolution to the swiftly growing customer caredemands in recent times. Chatbot has emerged as one of the biggest technological disruption. Simply speaking, it is a software agent facilitating interaction between computers and humans in natural language. So basically, it is a simulated, intellectual dialogue agent functional in a range of consumer engagement circumstances. It is the easiest and simplest means enable interaction between the retailers and the customers. </p><p> • Purpose- Most of the research work done in this field is concerned with their technical aspects. The recent research on chatbot pay little attention to the impact it is creating on users’ experience. Through this work, author is making an effort to know the customer-oriented impact that the chatbot bear on the shoppers. The purpose of this study is to develop and empirically test a framework that identify the customer oriented attributes of chatbot and impact of these attributes on customers. </p><p> • Objectives- The study intends to bridge the gap between concepts and actual attributes and applications on the subject of Chatbot. The following research objectives can address the various aspects of Chatbot affecting the different characteristics of consumers shopping behaviors: a) Identify the various attributes of chatbot that bears an impression on consumer shopping behavior. b) Evaluate the impact of chatbot on consumer shopping behavior that leads to the development of chatbot usage and adoption among the customer. </p><p> • Design/Methodology/Approach – For the purpose of analysis, author has administered Factor analysis and Multiple regression using SPSS version 23 for identification of various attributes of Chatbot and knowing their impact on shoppers. A self-administered questionnaire from the review of literature is developed. Industry experts in the field of retailing and academician evaluate the questionnaire. Primary information from the respondents is gathered using this questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises of Likert scale on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 stands for strongly disagree and 5 stands for strongly agree. Data is collected from 126 respondents, out of which 111 respondents were finally considered for study and analysis purpose. </p><p> • Findings – The empirical results show that the study identifies various attributes of chatbot like Trust, Usefulness, Satisfaction, Readiness to Use and Accessibility. It is also found that chatbot is really influencing the customers in providing them with shopping experience, which can be very helpful to the businesses for increasing the sales and creating repurchase intention among the customers. </p><p> • Originality/value – The recent research on chatbot pay little attention to the impact it is creating on customers who are actually interacting with it on regular basis. The research paper extends information for understanding and appreciating the customer oriented attributes of artificially intelligent Chatbot. In this regard, the author has developed a model framework and proposed the attributes identified. Through the work, author is also making an effort to test empirically the impact of the identified attributes on the shoppers.


Coronaviruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Dhiman

: In this letter, the psychological impact of COVID-19 on cancer infected patients is discussed. Cancer is a serious health-related problem in the human body nowadays. The 2019 pandemic of coronavirus disease has developed into an unheard-of pandemic. Given the havoc wreaked by this pathogen worldwide, many countries have implemented a severe, legally enforced method of social distancing, in the form of a lockdown. Unless adequate preventive measures are taken, the cost of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown can prove to be irreparable. The obvious consequences of this lockout, such as the escalating levels of unemployment, imminent economic crisis, and extreme food scarcity faced by the sudden unemployed migrant labour population, have been widely reported. Cancer patients are a highly vulnerable group even during non-pandemic periods, often presenting late in the course of their illness, without the services required to avail recommended care. The incidence of psychological complications and emotional distress is considerably higher than in the general population, and the trauma of both the pandemic and subsequent lockdown contributes significantly to their mental trauma. This analysis is geared at solving the challenges faced by cancer patients in the face of this pandemic and subsequent lockdown, with a look at potential solutions that can be enforced.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Peterson ◽  
Ellen F. Olshansky ◽  
Yuqing Guo ◽  
Lorraine S. Evangelista ◽  
Nancy A. Pike

Abstract Background: Survivors of single ventricle heart disease must cope with the physical, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial sequelae of their cardiac disease, which may also affect academic achievement and social relationships. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the experiences of school and social relationships in adolescents with single ventricle heart disease. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological methodology was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained via chart review. Results: Fourteen adolescents (aged 14 to 19 years) with single ventricle heart disease participated. Interviews ranged from 25 to 80 minutes in duration. Four themes emerged from the interviews, including “Don’t assume”: Pervasive ableism; “The elephant in the room”: Uncertain future; “Everyone finds something to pick on”: Bullying at school; “They know what I have been through”: Social support. The overall essence generated from the data was “optimism despite profound uncertainty.” Conclusions: Adolescents with single ventricle heart disease identified physical limitations and school challenges in the face of an uncertain health-related future. Despite physical and psychosocial limitations, most remained optimistic for the future and found activities that were congruent with their abilities. These experiences reflect “optimism despite profound uncertainty.”


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233372142098568
Author(s):  
Annie T. Chen ◽  
Frances Chu ◽  
Andrew K. Teng ◽  
Soojeong Han ◽  
Shih-Yin Lin ◽  
...  

Background: There is a need for interventions to promote health management of older adults with pre-frailty and frailty. Technology poses promising solutions, but questions exist about effective delivery. Objectives: We present the results of a mixed-methods pilot evaluation of Virtual Online Communities for Older Adults (VOCALE), an 8-week intervention conducted in the northwestern United States, in which participants shared health-related experiences and applied problem solving skills in a Facebook group. Methods: We performed a mixed-methods process evaluation, integrating quantitative and qualitative data, to characterize the intervention and its effects. We focus on four areas: health-related measures (health literacy and self-efficacy), participation, problem solving skills enacted, and subjective feedback. Results: Eight older adults with pre-frailty and frailty (age = 82.7 ± 6.6 years) completed the study. There was an upward trend in health literacy and health self-efficacy post-intervention. Participants posted at least two times per week. Content analysis of 210 posts showed participants were able to apply the problem solving skills taught, and exit interviews showed participants’ increased awareness of the need to manage health, and enjoyment in learning about others. Conclusion: This mixed-methods evaluation provides insight into feasibility and design considerations for online interventions to promote health management among vulnerable older adults.


Author(s):  
Haneen Amawi ◽  
Sayer Alazzam ◽  
Tasnim Alzanati ◽  
Neveen Altamimi ◽  
Alaa Hammad ◽  
...  

Background: The use of health-related applications (apps) on smartphones has become widespread. This is especially of value during the ongoing SAR-COV-2 pandemic, where the accessibility for health care services has been greatly limited. Patients with free access to apps can obtain information to improve their understanding and management of health issues. Currently, there are cancer-related apps available on iPhones and androids. However, there are no guidelines to control these apps and ensure their quality. Furthermore, these apps may significantly modify the patients’ perception and knowledge toward drug-related health services. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the convenience, quality, safety and efficacy of apps for cancer patient care. Methods: The study was conducted by searching all apps related to cancer care on both Google Play Store and Apple iTunes Store. A detailed assessment was then performed using the mobile application rating scale (MARS) and risk assessment tools. Results: The results indicated that on a scale from 1-5, 47% of the apps were rated ≥ 4. The MARS assessment of the apps indicated an overall quality rating of 3.38 ± 0.9 (mean ± SD). The visual appeal of the app was found to have a significant effect on app functionality and user engagement. The potential benefits of these apps come with challenges and limitations. Patents related to smartphone applications targeting patients were also discussed. Conclusion: We recommend a greater emphasis toward producing evidence-based apps. These apps should be rigorously tested, evaluated and updated by experts, particularly clinical pharmacists. Also, these may alter patient attitudes toward services provided by physicians and pharmacists. Finally, these apps should not replace in-person interactive health services.


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