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Journal of the American Medical... Oct 2021
Topics: Health Behavior; Information Technology; Persuasive Communication
PubMed: 34637521
DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocab215 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Sep 2022Persuasive technology is an umbrella term that encompasses software (eg, mobile apps) or hardware (eg, smartwatches) designed to influence users to perform preferable...
BACKGROUND
Persuasive technology is an umbrella term that encompasses software (eg, mobile apps) or hardware (eg, smartwatches) designed to influence users to perform preferable behavior once or on a long-term basis. Considering the ubiquitous nature of mobile devices across all socioeconomic groups, user behavior modification thrives under the personalized care that persuasive technology can offer. However, there is no guidance for developing personalized persuasive technologies based on the psychological characteristics of users.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the role that psychological characteristics play in interpreted mobile health (mHealth) screen perceived persuasiveness. In addition, this study aims to explore how users' psychological characteristics drive the perceived persuasiveness of digital health technologies in an effort to assist developers and researchers of digital health technologies by creating more engaging solutions.
METHODS
An experiment was designed to evaluate how psychological characteristics (self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, and the Big Five personality traits) affect the perceived persuasiveness of digital health technologies, using the persuasive system design framework. Participants (n=262) were recruited by Qualtrics International, Inc, using the web-based survey system of the XM Research Service. This experiment involved a survey-based design with a series of 25 mHealth app screens that featured the use of persuasive principles, with a focus on physical activity. Exploratory factor analysis and linear regression were used to evaluate the multifaceted needs of digital health users based on their psychological characteristics.
RESULTS
The results imply that an individual user's psychological characteristics (self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, and extraversion) affect interpreted mHealth screen perceived persuasiveness, and combinations of persuasive principles and psychological characteristics lead to greater perceived persuasiveness. The F test (ie, ANOVA) for model 1 was significant (F=191.806; P<.001), with an adjusted R of 0.208, indicating that the demographic variables explained 20.8% of the variance in perceived persuasiveness. Gender was a significant predictor, with women having higher perceived persuasiveness (P=.008) relative to men. Age was a significant predictor of perceived persuasiveness with individuals aged 40 to 59 years (P<.001) and ≥60 years (P<.001). Model 2 was significant (F=341.035; P<.001), with an adjusted R of 0.403, indicating that the demographic variables self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, and extraversion together explained 40.3% of the variance in perceived persuasiveness.
CONCLUSIONS
This study evaluates the role that psychological characteristics play in interpreted mHealth screen perceived persuasiveness. Findings indicate that self-efficacy, health consciousness, health motivation, extraversion, gender, age, and education significantly influence the perceived persuasiveness of digital health technologies. Moreover, this study showed that varying combinations of psychological characteristics and demographic variables affected the perceived persuasiveness of the primary persuasive technology category.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Mobile Applications; Motivation; Persuasive Communication; Self Efficacy; Telemedicine
PubMed: 36103226
DOI: 10.2196/40576 -
Computational Intelligence and... 2018Over the past few decades, antismoking public service announcements (PSAs) have been used by governments to promote healthy behaviours in citizens, for instance, against...
Over the past few decades, antismoking public service announcements (PSAs) have been used by governments to promote healthy behaviours in citizens, for instance, against drinking before the drive and against smoke. Effectiveness of such PSAs has been suggested especially for young persons. By now, PSAs efficacy is still mainly assessed through traditional methods (questionnaires and metrics) and could be performed only after the PSAs broadcasting, leading to waste of economic resources and time in the case of Ineffective PSAs. One possible countermeasure to such ineffective use of PSAs could be promoted by the evaluation of the cerebral reaction to the PSA of particular segments of population (e.g., old, young, and heavy smokers). In addition, it is crucial to gather such cerebral activity in front of PSAs that have been assessed to be effective against smoke (Effective PSAs), comparing results to the cerebral reactions to PSAs that have been certified to be not effective (Ineffective PSAs). The eventual differences between the cerebral responses toward the two PSA groups will provide crucial information about the possible outcome of new PSAs before to its broadcasting. This study focused on adult population, by investigating the cerebral reaction to the vision of different PSA images, which have already been shown to be Effective and Ineffective for the promotion of an antismoking behaviour. Results showed how variables as gender and smoking habits can influence the perception of PSA images, and how different communication styles of the antismoking campaigns could facilitate the comprehension of PSA's message and then enhance the related impact.
Topics: Adult; Brain; Electroencephalography; Eye Movements; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Persuasive Communication; Sex Factors; Smoking; Smoking Prevention; Visual Perception
PubMed: 30327667
DOI: 10.1155/2018/9721561 -
Nutrition Reviews Oct 2012Food marketing is often singled out as the leading cause of the obesity epidemic. The present review examines current food marketing practices to determine how exactly... (Review)
Review
Food marketing is often singled out as the leading cause of the obesity epidemic. The present review examines current food marketing practices to determine how exactly they may be influencing food intake, and how food marketers could meet their business objectives while helping people eat healthier. Particular attention is paid to the insights provided by recently published studies in the areas of marketing and consumer research, and those insights are integrated with findings from studies in nutrition and related disciplines. The review begins with an examination of the multiple ways in which 1) food pricing strategies and 2) marketing communication (including branding and food claims) bias food consumption. It then describes the effects of newer and less conspicuous marketing actions, focusing on 3) packaging (including the effects of package design and package-based claims) and 4) the eating environment (including the availability, salience, and convenience of food). Throughout, this review underscores the promising opportunities that food manufacturers and retailers have to make profitable "win-win" adjustments to help consumers eat better.
Topics: Advertising; Choice Behavior; Commerce; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Food Packaging; Humans; Marketing; Obesity; Persuasive Communication; Public Policy; Social Environment
PubMed: 23035805
DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00518.x -
AMIA ... Annual Symposium Proceedings.... 2019Self-tracking feedback with engaging and persuasive visualizations not only helps convey data but can also affect people's attitudes and behaviors. We investigate...
Self-tracking feedback with engaging and persuasive visualizations not only helps convey data but can also affect people's attitudes and behaviors. We investigate persuasive self-tracking feedback by augmenting data videos (DVs)-novel, engaging storytelling media. We introduce a new class of DVs, called Persuasive Data Videos (PDVs), by incorporating four persuasive elements-primary task, dialogue, system credibility, and social supports-drawn from the Persuasive System Design Model. We describe the iterative design of PDVs and a within-subjects preliminary validation to check their persuasive potential. We then assess PDVs' feasibility using the Persuasive Potential Questionnaire in a between-subjects study comparing a PDV against a conventional DV on Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 252). Our results indicate the feasibility of using PDVs in providing individuals' self-tracking feedback to convey persuasive health messages, based on which we discuss opportunities for designing persuasive behavioral feedback in an engaging way.
Topics: Feedback; Health Promotion; Humans; Monitoring, Ambulatory; Persuasive Communication; Self-Management; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Video Recording
PubMed: 32308822
DOI: No ID Found -
Health Psychology : Official Journal of... Sep 2022Modifiable behaviors, including physical activity and sedentary behavior, are important determinants of health, and messages are important tools for influencing these...
OBJECTIVE
Modifiable behaviors, including physical activity and sedentary behavior, are important determinants of health, and messages are important tools for influencing these behaviors. Functional neuroimaging research suggests that activity in regions of the brain's default mode and salience systems are independently associated with attending to health promoting messages. However, it remains unclear how these brain systems interact during exposure to persuasive messages and how this interaction relates to subsequent behavior change. Here, we examine how between-person differences in the relative integration between default mode and salience systems while viewing health messages relates to changes in health behavior.
METHOD
Using wrist-worn accelerometers, we logged physical activity in 150 participants (mean age = 33.17 years, 64% women; 43% Black, 37% white, 7% Asian, 5% Hispanic, and 8% other) continuously for an average of 10 days. Participants then viewed health messages encouraging physical activity while undergoing functional MRI (fMRI) and completed an additional month where physical activity was logged and the health messages were reinforced with daily text reminders.
RESULTS
Individuals with higher default mode and salience system integration during health message exposure were more likely to decrease their sedentary behavior and increase light physical activity in the month following fMRI than participants with lower brain integration.
CONCLUSIONS
Interactions between the salience and default mode systems are associated with message receptivity and subsequent behavior change, highlighting the value of expanding the focus from the role of single brain regions in studying health behavior change to larger-scale connectivity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Adult; Brain; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Persuasive Communication; Sedentary Behavior
PubMed: 36006700
DOI: 10.1037/hea0001201 -
BMC Public Health May 2011Health care providers (HCPs) play an important role in public health emergency preparedness and response (PHEPR) so need to be aware of public health threats and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Health care providers (HCPs) play an important role in public health emergency preparedness and response (PHEPR) so need to be aware of public health threats and emergencies. To inform HCPs, public health issues PHEPR messages that provide guidelines and updates, and facilitate surveillance so HCPs will recognize and control communicable diseases, prevent excess deaths and mitigate suffering. Public health agencies need to know that the PHEPR messages sent to HCPs reach their target audience and are effective and informative. Public health agencies need to know that the PHEPR messages sent to HCPs reach their target audience and are effective and informative. We conducted a literature review to investigate the systems and tools used by public health to generate PHEPR communications to HCPs, and to identify specific characteristics of message delivery mechanisms and formats that may be associated with effective PHEPR communications.
METHODS
A systematic review of peer- and non-peer-reviewed literature focused on the following questions: 1) What public health systems exist for communicating PHEPR messages from public health agencies to HCPs? 2) Have these systems been evaluated and, if yes, what criteria were used to evaluate these systems? 3) What have these evaluations discovered about characterizations of the most effective ways for public health agencies to communicate PHEPR messages to HCPs?
RESULTS
We identified 25 systems or tools for communicating PHEPR messages from public health agencies to HCPs. Few articles assessed PHEPR communication systems or messaging methods or outcomes. Only one study compared the effectiveness of the delivery format, device or message itself. We also discovered that the potential is high for HCPs to experience "message overload" given redundancy of PHEPR messaging in multiple formats and/or through different delivery systems.
CONCLUSIONS
We found that detailed descriptions of PHEPR messaging from public health to HCPs are scarce in the literature and, even when available are rarely evaluated in any systematic fashion. To meet present-day and future information needs for emergency preparedness, more attention needs to be given to evaluating the effectiveness of these systems in a scientifically rigorous manner.
Topics: Civil Defense; Communicable Diseases; Disaster Planning; Health Personnel; Humans; Persuasive Communication; Public Health
PubMed: 21592390
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-337 -
Gaceta Sanitaria Mar 2006The so-called media agenda has a great influence on the issues considered to be important by society. In this article, based on the Informe Quiral (Quiral Survey), the... (Review)
Review
The so-called media agenda has a great influence on the issues considered to be important by society. In this article, based on the Informe Quiral (Quiral Survey), the author analyses the coverage of health issues in Spanish press. In Spain, media concentration causes a clear tendency to information homogeneity and thus, health issues are rarely dealt with in an independent way or in its own specific space or by specialized professionals. The main chronic issues the Spanish press has followed during the years included in the survey have been: cancer, sexuality and reproduction, aids, drugs (including tobacco), mental disorders and nutrition-related issues. Politicians or individuals with political and technical posts are the sources which carry the burden of informing about health issues (49%). On the other hand, the more specialized sector is the source of information in only 26% of the cases. In order to improve health information, the author suggests establishing communication platforms and closer collaboration between the specialized sector and the media, fostering mutual knowledge of all professional groups taking part in the process and ridding health information of all political influences.
Topics: Communications Media; Health; Health Policy; Health Priorities; Information Dissemination; Information Services; Interprofessional Relations; Persuasive Communication; Politics; Propaganda; Public Opinion; Publishing; Spain
PubMed: 16539983
DOI: 10.1157/13086045 -
Science and Engineering Ethics Dec 2012The paper develops ethical guidelines for the development and usage of persuasive technologies (PT) that can be derived from applying discourse ethics to this type of...
The paper develops ethical guidelines for the development and usage of persuasive technologies (PT) that can be derived from applying discourse ethics to this type of technologies. The application of discourse ethics is of particular interest for PT, since 'persuasion' refers to an act of communication that might be interpreted as holding the middle between 'manipulation' and 'convincing'. One can distinguish two elements of discourse ethics that prove fruitful when applied to PT: the analysis of the inherent normativity of acts of communication ('speech acts') and the Habermasian distinction between 'communicative' and 'strategic rationality' and their broader societal interpretation. This essay investigates what consequences can be drawn if one applies these two elements of discourse ethics to PT.
Topics: Communication; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Persuasive Communication; Technology
PubMed: 21544700
DOI: 10.1007/s11948-011-9278-y -
BMC Public Health Nov 2021Co-design has the potential to create interventions that lead to sustainable health behaviour change. Evidence suggests application of co-design in various health...
BACKGROUND
Co-design has the potential to create interventions that lead to sustainable health behaviour change. Evidence suggests application of co-design in various health domains has been growing; however, few public-facing digital interventions have been co-designed to specifically address the needs of adults at risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aims to: (1) co-design, with key stakeholders, a digital dietary intervention to promote health behaviour change among adults at risk of T2D, and (2) evaluate the co-design process involved in developing the intervention prototype.
METHODS
The co-design study was based on a partnership between nutrition researchers and designers experienced in co-design for health. Potential end-users (patients and health professionals) were recruited from an earlier stage of the study. Three online workshops were conducted to develop and review prototypes of an app for people at risk of T2D. Themes were inductively defined and aligned with persuasive design (PD) principles used to inform ideal app features and characteristics.
RESULTS
Participants were predominantly female (range 58-100%), aged 38 to 63 years (median age = 59 years), consisting of a total of 20 end-users and four experts. Participants expressed the need for information from credible sources and to provide effective strategies to overcome social and environmental influences on eating behaviours. Preferred app features included tailoring to the individual's unique characteristics, ability to track and monitor dietary behaviour, and tools to facilitate controlled social connectivity. Relevant persuasive design principles included social support, reduction (reducing effort needed to reach target behaviour), tunnelling (guiding users through a process that leads to target behaviour), praise, rewards, and self-monitoring. The most preferred prototype was the Choices concept, which focusses on the users' journey of health behaviour change and recognises progress, successes, and failures in a supportive and encouraging manner. The workshops were rated successful, and feedback was positive.
CONCLUSIONS
The study's co-design methods were successful in developing a functionally appealing and relevant digital health promotion intervention. Continuous engagement with stakeholders such as designers and end-users is needed to further develop a working prototype for testing.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Health Behavior; Health Promotion; Humans; Middle Aged; Persuasive Communication; Social Support
PubMed: 34763701
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12102-y