Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35404255›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2022

Use and Effect of Embodied Conversational Agents for Improving Eating Behavior and Decreasing Loneliness Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Lean L Kramer, Lex van Velsen, Jenna L Clark, Bob C Mulder, Emely de Vet

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04510883 (Usage and Health Effects of Embodied Conversational Agents Among Older Adults), which is not on this map. Cited by 9 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04510883 nacompletednot on this map

Usage and Health Effects of Embodied Conversational Agents Among Older Adults

TypeinterventionalSponsorWageningen University and ResearchRan2020 to 2020Enrolled52ConditionsEating Behavior, Loneliness, Technology UseArmsPACO, Waiting list + PACO
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Lean L KramerConsumption and Healthy Lifestyles, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1409-2853
Lex van VelseneHealth cluster, Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0599-8706
Jenna L ClarkCenter for Advanced Hindsight, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0210-5749
Bob C MulderStrategic Communication Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0357-1370
Emely de VetConsumption and Healthy Lifestyles, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4452-2367

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEmbodied conversational agents (ECAs) have been proposed as a promising interaction modality for the delivery of programs focused on promoting lifestyle changes. However, it is not understood what factors influence the health effects of ECAs or their use.

objectiveWe aimed to (1) identify whether ECAs could persuade community-dwelling older adults to change their dietary behavior and whether ECA use could decrease loneliness, (2) test the pathways to these effects, and (3) understand factors influencing the use of ECAs.

methodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted. The intervention group received access to the PACO service for 8 weeks. The waitlist group started PACO use after waiting for 4 weeks. Two primary outcomes (eating behavior and loneliness) were assessed via online questionnaires at intake, upon joining the waitlist, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks. The third primary outcome (use) was assessed via data logs. Secondary outcomes were measured at the same time points, via questionnaires or an optional interview.

resultsIn total, 32 participants completed the intervention. We found a significant correlation between use in minutes on the one hand, and perceived usefulness (r=0.39, P=.03) and enjoyment on the other (r=0.38, P=.03). However, these did not predict use in the full regression model (F

conclusionsOur study did not provide any concluding evidence about factors that are linked to the use or health effects of ECAs. Future service design could benefit from either creating a functional design catering to the predominant stage in the precaution adoption process model of the targeted population, or by personalizing the service based on an intake in which the end user's stage is determined.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04510883; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04510883. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/22186.

Indexed as

eating behavioreating habitseHealthembodied conversational agentlifestyle changeolder adultonline interventionuser experience

Identifiers

PMID35404255
PMCPMC9039822

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.