1 research outputs found
Engagement with mHealth Alcohol Interventions: User Perspectives on an App or Chatbot-Delivered Program to Reduce Drinking
Research suggests participant engagement is a key mediator of mHealth alcohol interventions’ effectiveness in reducing alcohol consumption among users. Understanding the features
that promote engagement is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of mHealth-delivered alcohol
interventions. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers to mHealth alcohol intervention utilization among hazardous-drinking participants who were randomized to use
either an app (Step Away) or Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot-based intervention for reducing
drinking (the Step Away chatbot). We conducted semi-structured interviews from December 2019
to January 2020 with 20 participants who used the app or chatbot for three months, identifying
common facilitators and barriers to use. Participants of both interventions reported that tracking
their drinking, receiving feedback about their drinking, feeling held accountable, notifications about
high-risk drinking times, and reminders to track their drinking promoted continued engagement.
Positivity, personalization, gaining insight into their drinking, and daily tips were stronger facilitator
themes among bot users, indicating these may be strengths of the AI chatbot-based intervention
when compared to a user-directed app. While tracking drinking was a theme among both groups, it
was more salient among app users, potentially due to the option to quickly track drinks in the app
that was not present with the conversational chatbot. Notification glitches, technology glitches, and
difficulty with tracking drinking data were usage barriers for both groups. Lengthy setup processes
were a stronger barrier for app users. Repetitiveness of the bot conversation, receipt of non-tailored
daily tips, and inability to self-navigate to desired content were reported as barriers by bot users. To
maximize engagement with AI interventions, future developers should include tracking to reinforce
behavior change self-monitoring and be mindful of repetitive conversations, lengthy setup, and
pathways that limit self-directed navigation.Ye