Featuring original research and analysis on emerging learning technology markets and ventures published as Open Educational Resources (OERs) by professional educators enrolled in the University of British Columbia's Master of Educational Technology (MET) program. Browse and be inspired!
Feasibility and Acceptability of Chatbots for Nutrition and Physical Activity Health Promotion Among Adolescents: Systematic Scoping Review With Adolescent Consultation
Background: Reducing lifestyle risk behaviors among adolescents depends on access to age-appropriate health promotion information. Chatbots—computer programs designed to simulate conversations with human users—have the potential to deliver health information to adolescents to improve their lifestyle behaviors and support behavior change, but research on the feasibility and acceptability of chatbots in the adolescent population is unknown.
Objective: This systematic scoping review aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of chatbots in nutrition and physical activity interventions among adolescents. A secondary aim is to consult adolescents to identify features of chatbots that are acceptable and feasible…
( Average Rating: 3 )
sheena outerbridge sjoberg
Hello to all members of ETEC 523. I am a bit late in starting so will endeavour to move right along.
WHY this course
My healthcare background as Nurse Clinician and Liaison for Nunavik ( Northern Quebec) brings unique challenges and wonderful learning experiences. I work exclusively with the Inuit in Nunavik and as such am privileged to enjoy an in-depth view of Inuit life and culture.
One of my recent projects was a combination of McGill U. and the Douglas Mental Health Institute where our research on Inuit Resilience and Empowerment was published by Springer earlier this year. Part of the ongoing strategy is use of VR in mental health and is still being developed. alongside other interventions. My experience with VR in this context also reinforces my understanding and learning of the inherent VR power and impact upon the brain and neurological effects depending of course, on the design of the VR program.
The ultimate goal of these studies is a development of a tool which can address Inuit Suicide in the north, particularly among young Inuit and how communities are deeply impacted.
BIO
I have a B.ScN , M.Sc Strategic HR Development and Training ( UK, London) and more recently graduated with a M.Ed ALGC.
Our family"s global experience has nurtured and supported my M.Ed studies as did the context of the program.
We have lived and worked in France, Sweden, Singapore ( plus travel in SE Asia, Australia and 3 +years in West Africa with shorter bursts in NY, South America ( Columbia and Brazil).
I think that VR and Educational technology crosses all of these borders in a seamless way but can leave large footprints. So cognisance of this fact is a benchmark in the design and use of VR or any Ed.Tech. method.
Personal
Love travel, ( yep) language learning, cooking and sharing recipes, My daughter and her friend run a blog from Stockholm Sweden called Krydhyllor ( Spice rack) which shares stories and recipes from friends and colleagues worldwide who presently live, study and work in Stockholm ,
Music, classical guitar and art are other favourites as is walking in the forests in Northern Sweden where we have a old family wooden home which is constantly in need of TLC.
I look forward to learning and sharing with all of you
Best Wishes, Joy
The outcome of this study seems to suggest that the use of chatbots for this purpose was inappropriate. Although I did not read the entire paper, this seems a likely conclusion for most topics at our current stage. It seems that there could be many failure points for this application. Was it a failure of the Chatbot in this study, or could it have been an experience design issue?
Yeah, it was interesting to see that it seems to be a failure – I think my interpretation would be something along the lines of it being too “new” in the game to become successful – as noted in the results, it seems the failure surrounds ethical concerns and the use of false/misleading information.
Similar to Douglas, I didn’t read the entire paper, but coming from a background in research, it simply appears there has not been enough research in this area, and likely enough use of the chatbots to draw conclusions. While this study was testing feasibility, this could be studied further: perhaps going through a Research Ethics Board to address ethical concerns, and widening the validity of the sources used to feed the AI/chatbot to address the use of false/misleading information.
Emma,I agree with your interpretation. Likewise, i don’t see this quite as a failure, rather a step forward as it is a preliminary report on the present research idea.
Given the significant problems and mortality among young persons with eating disorders, this study would impel researchers to explore further into the Chatbot arena. .
We lack sufficient AI tools to address this topic, which is ironic, when considering how AI devices have become almost part of our lives and most significantly,. how AI and chatbots have formed close bonds with so many persons, especially young adults.
Having a device which would act as a tool for supporting the various stages of eating disorders and one which would seem familiar and yet supportive is laudable. Yes, I agree, there is room for much more research but the potential could be really significant.
The outcome of this study seems to suggest that the use of chatbots for this purpose was inappropriate. Although I did not read the entire paper, this seems a likely conclusion for most topics at our current stage. It seems that there could be many failure points for this application. Was it a failure of the Chatbot in this study, or could it have been an experience design issue?
Hi Sheena and Douglas,
Yeah, it was interesting to see that it seems to be a failure – I think my interpretation would be something along the lines of it being too “new” in the game to become successful – as noted in the results, it seems the failure surrounds ethical concerns and the use of false/misleading information.
Similar to Douglas, I didn’t read the entire paper, but coming from a background in research, it simply appears there has not been enough research in this area, and likely enough use of the chatbots to draw conclusions. While this study was testing feasibility, this could be studied further: perhaps going through a Research Ethics Board to address ethical concerns, and widening the validity of the sources used to feed the AI/chatbot to address the use of false/misleading information.
Hi Douglas and Emma
Emma,I agree with your interpretation. Likewise, i don’t see this quite as a failure, rather a step forward as it is a preliminary report on the present research idea.
Given the significant problems and mortality among young persons with eating disorders, this study would impel researchers to explore further into the Chatbot arena. .
We lack sufficient AI tools to address this topic, which is ironic, when considering how AI devices have become almost part of our lives and most significantly,. how AI and chatbots have formed close bonds with so many persons, especially young adults.
Having a device which would act as a tool for supporting the various stages of eating disorders and one which would seem familiar and yet supportive is laudable. Yes, I agree, there is room for much more research but the potential could be really significant.