Reasons to continue or stop using a virtual coach for quitting smoking and increasing physical activity: A mixed-methods analysis

Reasons to continue or stop using a virtual coach for quitting smoking and increasing physical activity: A mixed-methods analysis

Aretz, Nadyne (TU Delft Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science; TU Delft Intelligent Systems)

Albers, N. (mentor)
Brinkman, W.P. (mentor)
Kellnhofer, P. (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Computer Science and Engineering

CSE3000 Research Project

2022-06-23

The increase in health problems due to smoking or lack of physical activity has created the incentive to develop a virtual coach to help people with smoking cessation and increase physical activity. In this study, a mixed-methods analysis (thematic analysis, quantitative analysis, and a literature study) was carried out to find out what the reasons are for wanting to stop or continue using this virtual coach. By using triangulation, themes were found. The three themes found are the authenticity of the interaction, the caring character of the virtual coach, and the content of the interactions. Based on these themes, recommendations have been given on how to improve the virtual coach. The recommendations suggested are to improve the interactivity of the chat between the virtual coach and the participants, tailor the content of the interactions to the participant’s personal needs, and make use of gamification approaches to increase motivation.

Physical Activity
Behavior Change
virtual coach
conversational agent
eHealth
Digital health
Acceptance
smoking cessation support
chatbot

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cb4e9c2e-27fb-4074-95f0-307d4d964be9

https://doi.org/10.4121/19936487

Student theses

bachelor thesis

© 2022 Nadyne Aretz