title: Automated interventions for multiple health behaviors using conversational agents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An automated health counselor agent was designed to promote both physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption through a series of simulated conversations with users on their home computers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The agent was evaluated in a 4-arm randomized trial of a two-month daily contact intervention comparing: (a) physical activity; (b) fruit and vegetable consumption; (c) both interventions; and (d) a non-intervention control. Physical activity was assessed using daily pedometer steps. Daily servings of fruit and vegetables were assessed using the NIH/NCI self-report Fruit and Vegetable Scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in the physical activity intervention increased their walking on average compared to the control group, while those in the fruit and vegetable intervention and combined intervention decreased walking. Participants in the fruit and vegetable intervention group consumed significantly more servings per day compared to those in the control group, and those in the combined intervention reported consuming more compared to those in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Automated health intervention software designed for efficient re-use is effective at changing health behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Automated health behavior change interventions can be designed to facilitate translation and adaptation across multiple behaviors.
authors.affiliation: College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. bickmore@ccs.neu.edu
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Bickmore
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schulman
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sidner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D016138:Walking
keywords: Behavioral informatics; Dialog system; Diet promotion; Embodied conversational agent; Fruit and vegetable consumption promotion; Health behavior change intervention; Ontology; Physical activity promotion; Relational agent; Walking promotion