A Physical Activity and Diet Program Delivered by Artificially Intelligent Virtual Health Coach: Proof-of-Concept Study.

JMIR MHealth and UHealth
Carol A MaherKaren J Murphy

Abstract

Poor diet and physical inactivity are leading modifiable causes of death and disease. Advances in artificial intelligence technology present tantalizing opportunities for creating virtual health coaches capable of providing personalized support at scale. This proof of concept study aimed to test the feasibility (recruitment and retention) and preliminary efficacy of physical activity and Mediterranean-style dietary intervention (MedLiPal) delivered via artificially intelligent virtual health coach. This 12-week single-arm pre-post study took place in Adelaide, Australia, from March to August 2019. Participants were inactive community-dwelling adults aged 45 to 75 years, recruited through news stories, social media posts, and flyers. The program included access to an artificially intelligent chatbot, Paola, who guided participants through a computer-based individualized introductory session, weekly check-ins, and goal setting, and was available 24/7 to answer questions. Participants used a Garmin Vivofit4 tracker to monitor daily steps, a website with educational materials and recipes, and a printed diet and activity log sheet. Primary outcomes included feasibility (based on recruitment and retention) and preliminary efficacy fo...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 11, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Courtney R DavisCarol A Maher
Mar 2, 2021·Journal of Parkinson's Disease·Terry D Ellis, Gammon M Earhart
Sep 15, 2021·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Tiffany Christina LuoCaroline Astrid Figueroa
Oct 8, 2021·Informatics for Health & Social Care·Richard May, Kerstin Denecke

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Software Mentioned

Reflection Companion
MedLiPal
Lark
Slack
Watson Virtual Assistant
iOS
Apex Tool Group
Paola
SPSS

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