Perfect Fit: Evaluation of a Virtual Coach for Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity

Summary

The leading cause of disease burden across the globe is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Important modifiable behavioral CVD risk factors include, amongst others, smoking and low physical activity (PA). Individuals with a low socioeconomic position (SEP) often have a less favorable profile of risk factors, resulting in a higher disease burden and premature death. There is a need for cost-effective multi-behavior interventions that target one or more risk factors. eHealth applications are increasingly being used to offer behavior change interventions. Potential benefits include accessibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and increased disease self-management. However, eHealth interventions are often static and thereby less effective, and also frequently developed without (sufficiently) engaging end-users. Involving end-users, including those from lower SEP groups, and other relevant stakeholders can help to optimize the adoption and adherence to the eHealth intervention and result in the maintenance of healthy behavior.

The Perfect Fit intervention is the result of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the personalized eHealth intervention supports adult smokers to stop smoking and increase their PA using a virtual coach. We primarily aim to examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of the Perfect Fit intervention.

A mixed-method single-arm pre-post intervention study will be used. The intervention, delivered through a virtual coach, has a personalized duration and intensity, but will last on average 16 weeks.

Conditions

• Smoking
• Low Physical Activity Level

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Perfect Fit intervention: virtual coaching intervention to quit smoking and increase physical activity

The intervention, delivered through a virtual coach, has a personalized duration and intensity, but will last on average 16 weeks. The intervention has three phases: preparation, execution (including \[re\]lapse) and closing. By having chat conversations with the Perfect Fit virtual coach (using the mobile application 'NiceDay'), the user will be guided through the different phases of the intervention. In each phase, the user has chat conversations with the virtual coach (e.g. about goal setting, weekly reflection) and, in addition, receives exercises and educational video material to support smoking cessation and PA promotion. Additionally, a smartwatch is used to objectively assess PA. It allows participants to monitor their PA and the data (on the number of steps) is used to give automatic, personalized PA advice to the user.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Leiden University Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anke Versluis, Dr. · Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)

• Eline Meijer, Dr. · Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-09-19

Primary Completion

2024-06-28

Completion

2025-07-22

Countries

• Netherlands

Study Locations