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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Sep;100(9):1720-1729.
doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.04.015. Epub 2017 Apr 26.

Engaging women with an embodied conversational agent to deliver mindfulness and lifestyle recommendations: A feasibility randomized control trial

Paula M Gardiner  1 , Kelly D McCue  2 , Lily M Negash  2 , Teresa Cheng  2 , Laura F White  2 , Leanne Yinusa-Nyahkoon  2 , Brian W Jack  2 , Timothy W Bickmore  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Engaging women with an embodied conversational agent to deliver mindfulness and lifestyle recommendations: A feasibility randomized control trial

Paula M Gardiner et al. Patient Educ Couns. 2017 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: This randomized controlled trial evaluates the feasibility of using an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) to teach lifestyle modifications to urban women.

Methods: Women were randomized to either 1) an ECA (content included: mindfulness, stress management, physical activity, and healthy eating) or 2) patient education sheets mirroring same content plus a meditation CD/MP3 once a day for one month. General outcome measures included: number of stress management techniques used, physical activity levels, and eating patterns.

Results: Sixty-one women ages 18 to 50 were enrolled. On average, 51% identified as white, 26% as black, 23% as other races; and 20% as Hispanic. The major stress management techniques reported at baseline were: exercise (69%), listening to music (70%), and social support (66%). After one month, women randomized to the ECA significantly decreased alcohol consumption to reduce stress (p=0.03) and increased daily fruit consumption by an average of 2 servings compared to the control (p=0.04).

Conclusion: It is feasible to use an ECA to promote health behaviors on stress management and healthy eating among diverse urban women.

Practice implications: Compared to patient information sheets, ECAs provide promise as a way to teach healthy lifestyle behaviors to diverse urban women.

Keywords: Embodied conversational agent; Healthy eating; Mindfulness; Mindfulness based stress reduction; Nutrition; Physical activity; Stress management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Gabby Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) Interface.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Study consort diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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