scholarly journals Using Relational Agents to Promote Exercise and Sun Protection: Assessment of Participants� Experiences With Two Interventions (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie A Sillice ◽  
Patricia J Morokoff ◽  
Ginette Ferszt ◽  
Timothy Bickmore ◽  
Beth C Bock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Participant Engagement ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Group A ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Qualitative Responses

BACKGROUND Relational agents (RAs) are electronic computational figures designed to engage participants in the change process. A recent study, Project RAISE, tested the effectiveness of RAs, combined with existing computer-based interventions to increase regular exercise and sun protection behaviors. Results showed these interventions can be effective but need further development. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine participants’ experiences using RAs to increase participant engagement and promote behavior change . METHODS A qualitative approach was primarily utilized. A 25-question interview guide assessed different components of participants’ experiences with the intervention, including motivation, engagement, satisfaction or dissatisfaction, quality of their interaction with the RA, and behavior change. Quantitative assessment of satisfaction was based on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 representing least satisfied and 10 representing most satisfied. A summative analytic approach was used to assess individuals’ qualitative responses. A single analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined levels of satisfaction by gender. RESULTS Of the original 1354 participants enrolled in Project RAISE, 490 of 1354 (36%) were assigned to the RA group. A sample of 216 out of 490 (44%) participants assigned to the RA group completed the interventions, and follow-up assessments were contacted to participate in the semistructured interview. A total of 34 out of 216 (16%) completed the interview. Participants were motivated by, and satisfied with, the intervention. Participants viewed the RA as supportive, informative, caring, and reported positive behavior change in both exercise and sun protection. Some participants (15/34, 44%) noted the RA was less judgmental and less “overbearing” compared with a human counselor; other participants (12/34, 35%) said that the interaction was sometimes repetitive or overly general. The majority of participants (22/34, 65%) viewed the RA as an important contributor to their behavior change for exercise, sun protection, or both. Levels of satisfaction ranged between 7 and 10. There were no gender differences noted in levels of satisfaction (P=.51). CONCLUSIONS RAs provide an innovative and attractive platform to increase exercise and sun protection behaviors and potentially other health behaviors.

Paradox of Prescribing Late Chemotherapy: Oncologists Explain

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. e1006-e1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minnie Bluhm ◽  
Cathleen M. Connell ◽  
Raymond G. De Vries ◽  
Nancy K. Janz ◽  
Kathleen E. Bickel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Clinical Factors ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Supportive Interventions ◽  
Nuanced Understanding

Purpose: The value of chemotherapy for patients with cancer in the last weeks of life warrants examination. Late chemotherapy may not improve survival or quality of life but typically precludes hospice enrollment and may result in additional symptoms, increased use of other aggressive treatments, and worsening quality of life. Few studies have explored oncologists’ rationales for administering chemotherapy near death. This study examines the self-reported factors that influence oncologists’ decisions about late chemotherapy. Methods: In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 17 oncologists through a semistructured interview guide. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using conventional content analysis, a qualitative method that allows the detection and analysis of patterns in the data. Results: Clinical factors take priority in determining late chemotherapy decisions when clear treatment choices exist. When clinical factors are ambiguous, emotion becomes a highly salient influence. Oncologists view late chemotherapy to be patient driven and use it to palliate emotional distress and maintain patient hope even when physical benefit is unexpected. Oncologists experience unique and difficult challenges when caring for dying patients, including emotionally draining communication, overwhelming responsibility for life/death, limitations of oncology to heal, and prognostic uncertainty. These challenges are also eased by offering late chemotherapy. Conclusion: The findings reveal a nuanced understanding of why oncologists find it difficult to refuse chemotherapy treatment for patients near death. Optimal end-of-life treatment decisions require supportive interventions and system change, both of which must take into account the challenges oncologists face.

Predicting quality of life in multiple sclerosis: accounting for physical disability, fatigue, cognition, mood disorder, personality, and behavior change

2005 ◽  
Vol 231 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph H.B. Benedict ◽  
Elizabeth Wahlig ◽  
Rohit Bakshi ◽  
Inna Fishman ◽  
Frederick Munschauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Mood Disorder ◽  
Physical Disability ◽  
And Behavior

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAINING PIM III IN AGENCY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (02) ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
Kencana Sari ◽  
Mukneri Mukhtar ◽  
Yetti Supriyati
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Work Behavior ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
Management Functions ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Improve Service Quality

This study is a qualitative research aims to find out how the implementation of leadership level III training at Human Resources Development Board of Province of South Sumatera based on: (1) participant's satisfaction covers: participant's satisfaction to widyaiswara or resource person, participant's satisfaction to organizer committee service, participant's satisfaction on training materials, participant's satisfaction on training schedule, Participants on training facilities and infrastructure, and participant's satisfaction with the training consumption; (2) learning activities include: participant activity in learning process, widyaiswara activity or resource in learning process, and organizer activity of organizer in learning process; (3) changes in the behavior of alumni after returning to their respective duties, including: behavioral changes in implementing management functions, behavior change in task delegation, behavior change in coordination, and behavior change in decision making; (4) Impact of change in employment behavior of alumni to improve agency performance; and (5) Impact of change in work behavior of alumni to improve service quality of institution. Keywords: Evaluation, Educational, Training and Leaderships.

scholarly journals Impact of a Mobile App–Based Health Coaching and Behavior Change Program on Participant Engagement and Weight Status of Overweight and Obese Children: Retrospective Cohort Study

10.2196/14458 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e14458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Cueto ◽  
C Jason Wang ◽  
Lee Michael Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
Participant Engagement ◽  
Commitment Period ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change Program

Background Effective treatment of obesity in children and adolescents traditionally requires frequent in-person contact, and it is often limited by low participant engagement. Mobile health tools may offer alternative models that enhance participant engagement. Objective The aim of this study was to assess child engagement over time, with a mobile app–based health coaching and behavior change program for weight management, and to examine the association between engagement and change in weight status. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of user data from Kurbo, a commercial program that provides weekly individual coaching via video chat and supports self-monitoring of health behaviors through a mobile app. Study participants included users of Kurbo between March 2015 and March 2017, who were 5 to 18 years old and who were overweight or obese (body mass index; BMI ≥ 85th percentile or ≥ 95th percentile) at baseline. The primary outcome, engagement, was defined as the total number of health coaching sessions received. The secondary outcome was change in weight status, defined as the change in BMI as a percentage of the 95th percentile (%BMIp95). Analyses of outcome measures were compared across three initial commitment period groups: 4 weeks, 12 to 16 weeks, or 24 weeks. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to adjust outcomes for the independent variables of sex, age group (5-11 years, 12-14 years, and 15-18 years), and commitment period. A sensitivity analysis was conducted, excluding a subset of participants involuntarily assigned to the 12- to 16-week commitment period by an employer or health plan. Results A total of 1120 participants were included in analyses. At baseline, participants had a mean age of 12 years (SD 2.5), mean BMI percentile of 96.6 (SD 3.1), mean %BMIp95 of 114.5 (SD 16.5), and they were predominantly female 68.04% (762/1120). Participant distribution across commitment periods was 26.07% (292/1120) for 4 weeks, 61.61% (690/1120) for 12-16 weeks, and 12.32% (138/1120) for 24 weeks. The median coaching sessions (interquartile range) received were 8 (3-16) for the 4-week group, 9 (5-12) for the 12- to 16-week group, and 19 (11-25) for the 24-week group (P<.001). Adjusted for sex and age group, participants in the 4- and 12-week groups participated in –8.03 (95% CI –10.19 to –5.87) and –9.34 (95% CI –11.31 to –7.39) fewer coaching sessions, compared with those in the 24-week group (P<.001). Adjusted for commitment period, sex, and age group, the overall mean change in %BMIp95 was –0.21 (95% CI –0.25 to –0.17) per additional coaching session (P<.001). Conclusions Among overweight and obese children using a mobile app–based health coaching and behavior change program, increased engagement was associated with longer voluntary commitment periods, and increased number of coaching sessions was associated with decreased weight status.

scholarly journals Ayurveda and Panchakarma: Measuring the Effects of a Holistic Health Intervention

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 272-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Conboy ◽  
Ingrid Edshteyn ◽  
Hilary Garivaltis
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Home Context ◽  
Ayurvedic Treatment ◽  
Using Data ◽  
And Behavior

Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India, is understudied in western contexts. Using data gathered from an Ayurvedic treatment program, this study examined the role of psychosocial factors in the process of behavior change and the salutogenic process. This observational study examined associations with participation in the 5-day Ayurvedic cleansing retreat program, Panchakarma. Quality of life, psychosocial, and behavior change measurements were measured longitudinally on 20 female participants. Measurements were taken before the start of the program, immediately after the program, and 3 months postprogram. The program did not significantly improve quality of life. Significant improvements were found in self-efficacy towards using Ayurveda to improve health and reported positive health behaviors. In addition, perceived social support and depression showed significant improvements 3 months postprogram after the subjects had returned to their home context. As a program of behavior change, our preliminary results suggest that the complex intervention Panchakarma may be effective in assisting one's expected and reported adherence to new and healthier behavior patterns.

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAINING PIM III IN AGENCY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (02) ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
Kencana Sari ◽  
Mukneri Mukhtar ◽  
Yetti Supriyati
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Work Behavior ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
Management Functions ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Improve Service Quality

This study is a qualitative research aims to find out how the implementation of leadership level III training at Human Resources Development Board of Province of South Sumatera based on: (1) participant's satisfaction covers: participant's satisfaction to widyaiswara or resource person, participant's satisfaction to organizer committee service, participant's satisfaction on training materials, participant's satisfaction on training schedule, Participants on training facilities and infrastructure, and participant's satisfaction with the training consumption; (2) learning activities include: participant activity in learning process, widyaiswara activity or resource in learning process, and organizer activity of organizer in learning process; (3) changes in the behavior of alumni after returning to their respective duties, including: behavioral changes in implementing management functions, behavior change in task delegation, behavior change in coordination, and behavior change in decision making; (4) Impact of change in employment behavior of alumni to improve agency performance; and (5) Impact of change in work behavior of alumni to improve service quality of institution. Keywords: Evaluation, Educational, Training and Leaderships.

scholarly journals Impact of a Mobile App–Based Health Coaching and Behavior Change Program on Participant Engagement and Weight Status of Overweight and Obese Children: Retrospective Cohort Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Cueto ◽  
C Jason Wang ◽  
Lee Michael Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
Participant Engagement ◽  
Commitment Period ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change Program

BACKGROUND Effective treatment of obesity in children and adolescents traditionally requires frequent in-person contact, and it is often limited by low participant engagement. Mobile health tools may offer alternative models that enhance participant engagement. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess child engagement over time, with a mobile app–based health coaching and behavior change program for weight management, and to examine the association between engagement and change in weight status. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of user data from <italic>Kurbo</italic>, a commercial program that provides weekly individual coaching via video chat and supports self-monitoring of health behaviors through a mobile app. Study participants included users of <italic>Kurbo</italic> between March 2015 and March 2017, who were 5 to 18 years old and who were overweight or obese (body mass index; BMI ≥ 85th percentile or ≥ 95th percentile) at baseline. The primary outcome, engagement, was defined as the total number of health coaching sessions received. The secondary outcome was change in weight status, defined as the change in BMI as a percentage of the 95th percentile (%BMIp95). Analyses of outcome measures were compared across three initial commitment period groups: 4 weeks, 12 to 16 weeks, or 24 weeks. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to adjust outcomes for the independent variables of sex, age group (5-11 years, 12-14 years, and 15-18 years), and commitment period. A sensitivity analysis was conducted, excluding a subset of participants involuntarily assigned to the 12- to 16-week commitment period by an employer or health plan. RESULTS A total of 1120 participants were included in analyses. At baseline, participants had a mean age of 12 years (SD 2.5), mean BMI percentile of 96.6 (SD 3.1), mean %BMIp95 of 114.5 (SD 16.5), and they were predominantly female 68.04% (762/1120). Participant distribution across commitment periods was 26.07% (292/1120) for 4 weeks, 61.61% (690/1120) for 12-16 weeks, and 12.32% (138/1120) for 24 weeks. The median coaching sessions (interquartile range) received were 8 (3-16) for the 4-week group, 9 (5-12) for the 12- to 16-week group, and 19 (11-25) for the 24-week group (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001). Adjusted for sex and age group, participants in the 4- and 12-week groups participated in –8.03 (95% CI –10.19 to –5.87) and –9.34 (95% CI –11.31 to –7.39) fewer coaching sessions, compared with those in the 24-week group (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001). Adjusted for commitment period, sex, and age group, the overall mean change in %BMIp95 was –0.21 (95% CI –0.25 to –0.17) per additional coaching session (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS Among overweight and obese children using a mobile app–based health coaching and behavior change program, increased engagement was associated with longer voluntary commitment periods, and increased number of coaching sessions was associated with decreased weight status.

scholarly journals Pesantren-Based Counseling in Changing The Behaviour of The Community of Former Bajingan Being Personal Characterless "Pelopor"

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-75
Author(s):  
Samsul Arifin
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Boarding School ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
Ethnographic Approach ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
The Common ◽  
And Behavior

The kiai (muslim scholars of Islamic knowlegde disciplines in Indonesia) and the bajingan (bandit, local strongmen, and gangsters) have a positive relationship. Even kiai able to utilize their potential for the common good. Kiai can change the behavior of the former bajingan being personally "Pelopor", which is characterized as a leader in preaching and build civilization together with the surrounding communities. The focus of this paper: the quality rather than the personality of the counselor, procedures, and stages in counseling, and behavior that characterized the former bajingan "Pelopor". The study used a qualitative-ethnographic approach. Data derived from the documents and field notes. The results of this study are to construct at-tawazun (balance), according to the characteristics of the Islamic boarding school. On the quality of personality counselor balance between quality shalahiyyah (scientific prowess and skills) with shalih integrity (strength of character). On delivering a message, the balance between targhib (reinforcement) and tarhib (punishment). In the former bajingan behavior change, the balance between ritual piety and social piety

scholarly journals Evaluación de aplicaciones para la deshabituación tabáquica con elementos de gamificación: elaboración y aplicación de un check-list = Evaluation of gamification apps in smoking cessation: development and application of a check-list

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Rubén Andújar-Espinosa ◽  
Lourdes Salinero-González ◽  
Manuel Castilla-Martínez ◽  
Carlos Castillo-Quintanilla ◽  
Rocío Ibañez-Meléndez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Check List ◽  
Tobacco Use Cessation ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Pubmed Search ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Access Policies

Resumen: Introducción. El uso de la gamificación en salud es una herramienta útil para incrementar la motivación cuan­do se aplica a salud. Los objetivos fueron realizar una revisión sobre evidencias científicas de aplicaciones con elementos de gamificación en salud, identificar características de calidad, elaborar un check-list y aplicarlo a apli­caciones para la deshabituación tabáquica con elementos de gamificación. Métodos. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en Pubmed sobre gamificación en salud y una búsqueda de apps de cese tabáquico con elementos de gamificación. Se elaboró un check-list para evaluar la calidad, elementos de gamificación y técnicas de cambio de comportamiento utilizados, posteriormente se aplicó a las apps seleccionadas. Resultados. Se incluyeron 14 apps sobre gamificación en deshabituación tabáquica. Solo 4 (28,6%) identificaron fuentes de información fiables y solo 2 (14,3%) informaron sobre políticas de acceso y tratamiento de datos. Las técnicas de cambio de comportamiento identificadas fueron retroalimentación en todas las apps, automonitorización en 12 (85,7%) y cambios basados en los éxitos pasados en 13 (92,9%). Conclusiones. Existen pocos estudios sobre aplica­ciones para la deshabituación tabáquica con elementos de gamificación, con gran variabilidad en metodología, variables medidas y escasas evidencias. La creación de un check-list sobre calidad de las aplicaciones podría disminuir esta variabilidad y mejorar la calidad de los estudios futuros. Son necesarios nuevos estudios.Palabras clave: Deshabituación tabáquica; Aplicaciones móviles; Terapia de comportamiento; Cese tabáquico.Abstract: Introduction. The use of health gamification has proven to be a useful tool to increase motivation and com­mitment when applied to health. The objectives were to review the scientific evidences of health gamification applications, to identify the quality characteristics, to develop a check list to evaluate it and to apply it to the appli­cations in smoking cessation. Methodology. PubMed search on health gamification and a search for smoking cessation apps with gamification elements in the most important application stores. A checklist was developed to evaluate the quality, gamification elements and behavior change techniques used, and was applied to the selected apps. Results. We included 14 apps on gamification in smoking cessation. Only 4 (28.6%) identified reliable sou­rces of information and only 2 (14.3%) reported on access policies and data processing. Behavior change techni­ques identified were feedback in all apps, self-monitoring in 12 (85.7%) and changes based on past successes 13 (92.9%). Conclusions. There are few studies on gamification applications in smoking cessation, with a high variabi­lity in the methodology, measured variables and with little evidence. Creating a checklist on the quality of smoking cessation apps could decrease this variability and improve the quality of future studies. Further studies are needed.Keywords: Tobacco Use Cessation; Mobile Applications; Behavior Therapy; Smoking Cessation.

scholarly journals On the Usefulness of Narratives: An Interdisciplinary Review and Theoretical Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 429-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria A Shaffer ◽  
Elizabeth S Focella ◽  
Andrew Hathaway ◽  
Laura D Scherer ◽  
Brian J Zikmund-Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Health Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Narrative Processing ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
Narrative Intervention ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior

Abstract Background How can we use stories from other people to promote better health experiences, improve judgments about health, and increase the quality of medical decisions without introducing bias, systematically persuading the listeners to change their attitudes, or altering behaviors in nonoptimal ways? More practically, should narratives be used in health education, promotion, or behavior change interventions? Method In this article, we address these questions by conducting a narrative review of a diverse body of literature on narratives from several disciplines to gain a better understanding about what narratives do, including their role in communication, engagement, recall, persuasion, and health behavior change. We also review broad theories about information processing and persuasion from psychology and more specific models about narrative messaging found in the health communication and marketing literatures to provide insight into the processes by which narratives have their effect on health behavior. Results To address major gaps in our theoretical understanding about how narratives work and what effects they will have on health behavior, we propose the Narrative Immersion Model, whose goal is to identify the parameters that predict the specific impact of a particular narrative (e.g. persuade, inform, comfort, etc.) based on the type of narrative message (e.g. process, experience, or outcome narrative). Further, the Narrative Immersion Model describes the magnitude of the effect as increasing through successive layers of engagement with the narrative: interest, identification, and immersion. Finally, the Narrative Immersion Model identifies characteristics of the narrative intervention that encourage greater immersion within a given narrative. Conclusions We believe there are important communication gaps in areas areas of behavioral medicine that could be addressed with narratives; however, more work is needed in order to employ narrative messaging systematically. The Narrative Immersion Model advances our theoretical understanding about narrative processing and its subsequent effects on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.

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