Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Volume 8, Issue 3-4, December 2018, Pages 225 - 230

A Tablet Based Embodied Conversational Agent to Promote Smoking Cessation among Veterans: A Feasibility Study

Authors
Abu S Abdullah1, 2, 3, *, Stephan Gaehde1, 3, Tim Bickmore4
1Department of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
2Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
3Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston VA Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, USA
4College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
* Corresponding author. Email: asm.abdullah@graduate.hku.hk
Corresponding Author
Abu S Abdullah
Received 15 May 2018, Accepted 7 August 2018, Available Online 31 December 2018.
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.104How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Embodied conversational agent (ECA); smoking cessation; Veterans
Abstract

Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) offer a new means to support smokers as a virtual coach and motivate them to quit smoking. In this study we assess the feasibility and acceptability of an ECA to support quit smoking (“aka ECA-Q”). ECA-Q, a 14-days program, delivered through Tablet computers, interacts with participants with supporting messages for quit smoking and motivates them to set a quit date. Study participants (n = 6) were Veterans receiving medical care at Boston VA Healthcare System who responded to an open advertisement. Participants completed a survey at baseline and after 14 days follow-up. All participants were satisfied with the ECA program and liked the features of the agent; three out of six participants had set a quit date by the end of the 14 days. Participants reported several positive and less important features of the agent and made suggestions to improve the agent. This study shows that a conversation agent is acceptable to smoking veterans to help them in setting a quit date with an ultimate goal of quit smoking. Insights gained from this study would be useful to redesign the current version of ECA-Q program for a future randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy.

Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

Download article (PDF)
View full text (HTML)

<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
8 - 3-4
Pages
225 - 230
Publication Date
2018/12/31
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.104How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Abu S Abdullah
AU  - Stephan Gaehde
AU  - Tim Bickmore
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/12/31
TI  - A Tablet Based Embodied Conversational Agent to Promote Smoking Cessation among Veterans: A Feasibility Study
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 225
EP  - 230
VL  - 8
IS  - 3-4
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.104
DO  - 10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.104
ID  - Abdullah2018
ER  -