demonstration

Reusable virtual coach for smoking cessation and physical activity coaching

Authors:

Walter Baccinelli,

Sven van der Burg,

Robin Richardson,

Bouke Scheltinga,

Willem- Paul Brinkman,

Jasper ReenaldaAuthors Info & Claims

IVA '22: Proceedings of the 22nd ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents

Article No.: 38, Pages 1 - 3

https://doi.org/10.1145/3514197.3551252

Published: 06 September 2022 Publication History

Abstract

Smoking tobacco and physical inactivity are key preventable behavioural risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Computerised coaching systems can help individuals to modify risky behaviours, thereby preventing CVD. However, most reported eHealth or computerized coaching systems are hard to reuse in slightly different settings. To provide an open-source, reusable computer coaching system, we developed Perfect Fit. The reusability is manifested by building around the open-source text- and voice-based contextual assistant framework Rasa. Rasa provides a simple, standard interface to many popular messaging and voice channels, and custom connectors are easily implemented. A set of algorithms have been developed and connected to Rasa to drive and personalize the conversation flow and the coaching process. Such algorithms make use of data stored in a devoted database. Furthermore, Perfect Fit adheres to best practices and standards in software engineering. The modular design of Perfect Fit will allow researchers to connect the virtual coach to any messaging or voice channel with only modest modification. Perfect Fit is available under open-source license in GitHub and is currently in prototype-phase. Concluding, Perfect Fit will deliver a virtual coach that can easily be adapted and reused in different settings. The coach helps individuals to achieve and maintain abstinence from smoking and sufficient physical activity (PA).

References

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Cited By

Versluis APenfornis Kvan der Burg SScheltinga Bvan Vliet MAlbers NMeijer E(2024)Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical ActivityJMIR Cardio10.2196/477308(e47730)Online publication date: 20-Dec-2024
https://doi.org/10.2196/47730
van Vliet MVersluis AChavannes NScheltinga BAlbers NPenfornis KBaccinelli WMeijer E(2024)Protocol of a mixed-methods evaluation of Perfect Fit: A personalized mHealth intervention with a virtual coach to promote smoking cessation and physical activity in adultsDIGITAL HEALTH10.1177/2055207624130002010Online publication date: 5-Dec-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241300020
Pietrantoni N(2023)A Structured Literature Review on Conversational Agents that Empower Health Interventions2023 Fourth International Conference on Information Systems and Software Technologies (ICI2ST)10.1109/ICI2ST62251.2023.00024(120-127)Online publication date: 22-Nov-2023
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICI2ST62251.2023.00024

Index Terms

Reusable virtual coach for smoking cessation and physical activity coaching
1. Applied computing
  1. Life and medical sciences
    1. Health care information systems

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Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

IVA '22: Proceedings of the 22nd ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents

September 2022

234 pages

ISBN:9781450392488

DOI:10.1145/3514197

General Chairs:
Carlos Martinho
Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa & INESC-ID
,
João Dias
Universidade do Algarve
,
Program Chairs:
Joana Campos
Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa & INESC-ID
,
Dirk Heylen
University of Twente

Copyright © 2022 Owner/Author.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for third-party components of this work must be honored. For all other uses, contact the Owner/Author.

Sponsors

SIGAI: ACM Special Interest Group on Artificial Intelligence

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 06 September 2022

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Author Tags

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Demonstration

Funding Sources

Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research

Conference

IVA '22

Sponsor:

SIGAI

IVA '22: ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents

September 6 - 9, 2022

Faro, Portugal

Acceptance Rates

IVA '22 Paper Acceptance Rate 21 of 51 submissions, 41%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 53 of 196 submissions, 27%

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Cited By

Versluis APenfornis Kvan der Burg SScheltinga Bvan Vliet MAlbers NMeijer E(2024)Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical ActivityJMIR Cardio10.2196/477308(e47730)Online publication date: 20-Dec-2024
https://doi.org/10.2196/47730
van Vliet MVersluis AChavannes NScheltinga BAlbers NPenfornis KBaccinelli WMeijer E(2024)Protocol of a mixed-methods evaluation of Perfect Fit: A personalized mHealth intervention with a virtual coach to promote smoking cessation and physical activity in adultsDIGITAL HEALTH10.1177/2055207624130002010Online publication date: 5-Dec-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241300020
Pietrantoni N(2023)A Structured Literature Review on Conversational Agents that Empower Health Interventions2023 Fourth International Conference on Information Systems and Software Technologies (ICI2ST)10.1109/ICI2ST62251.2023.00024(120-127)Online publication date: 22-Nov-2023
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICI2ST62251.2023.00024

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