The choice of behavioral change techniques in conversational agents in healthcare: a scoping review protocol
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Published version
Author(s)
Tudor Car, Lorainne
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background:
Conversational agents or chatbots are computer programs that simulate conversations with users. Conversational agents are increasingly used for delivery of behavior change interventions in health care. Behavior change is complex and comprises the use of one or several components collectively known as behavioral change techniques (BCTs).
Objective:
The objective of this scoping review is to identify the BCTs that are used in behavior change–focused interventions delivered via conversational agents in health care.
Methods:
This scoping review will be performed in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and will be reported according to the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews guidelines. We will perform a comprehensive search of electronic databases and grey literature sources, and will check the reference lists of included studies for additional relevant studies. The screening and data extraction will be performed independently and in parallel by two review authors. Discrepancies will be resolved through consensus or discussion with a third review author. We will use a data extraction form congruent with the key themes and aims of this scoping review. BCTs employed in the included studies will be coded in line with BCT Taxonomy v1. We will analyze the data qualitatively and present it in diagrammatic or tabular form, alongside a narrative summary.
Results:
To date, we have designed the search strategy and performed the search on April 26, 2021. The first round of screening of retrieved articles is planned to begin soon.
Conclusions:
Using appropriate BCTs in the design and delivery of health care interventions via conversational agents is essential to improve long-term outcomes. Our findings will serve to inform the development of future interventions in this area.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID):
PRR1-10.2196/30166
JMIR Res Protoc 2021;10(7):e30166
Conversational agents or chatbots are computer programs that simulate conversations with users. Conversational agents are increasingly used for delivery of behavior change interventions in health care. Behavior change is complex and comprises the use of one or several components collectively known as behavioral change techniques (BCTs).
Objective:
The objective of this scoping review is to identify the BCTs that are used in behavior change–focused interventions delivered via conversational agents in health care.
Methods:
This scoping review will be performed in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and will be reported according to the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews guidelines. We will perform a comprehensive search of electronic databases and grey literature sources, and will check the reference lists of included studies for additional relevant studies. The screening and data extraction will be performed independently and in parallel by two review authors. Discrepancies will be resolved through consensus or discussion with a third review author. We will use a data extraction form congruent with the key themes and aims of this scoping review. BCTs employed in the included studies will be coded in line with BCT Taxonomy v1. We will analyze the data qualitatively and present it in diagrammatic or tabular form, alongside a narrative summary.
Results:
To date, we have designed the search strategy and performed the search on April 26, 2021. The first round of screening of retrieved articles is planned to begin soon.
Conclusions:
Using appropriate BCTs in the design and delivery of health care interventions via conversational agents is essential to improve long-term outcomes. Our findings will serve to inform the development of future interventions in this area.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID):
PRR1-10.2196/30166
JMIR Res Protoc 2021;10(7):e30166
Date Issued
2021-07-21
Date Acceptance
2021-06-10
Citation
JMIR Research Protocols, 2021, 10 (7), pp.1-5
ISSN
1929-0748
Publisher
JMIR Publications
Start Page
1
End Page
5
Journal / Book Title
JMIR Research Protocols
Volume
10
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
©Laura Martinengo, Nicholas Y W Lo, Westin I W T Goh, Lorainne Tudor Car. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols
(https://www.researchprotocols.org), 21.07.2021. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Research Protocols, is properly cited. The
complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.researchprotocols.org, as well as this
copyright and license information must be included.
(https://www.researchprotocols.org), 21.07.2021. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Research Protocols, is properly cited. The
complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.researchprotocols.org, as well as this
copyright and license information must be included.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.researchprotocols.org/2021/7/e30166
Subjects
behavior
behavior change
behavioral change technique
chatbot
conversational agent
health care
long-term outcomes
protocol
scoping review
1103 Clinical Sciences
1117 Public Health and Health Services
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-07-21