Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity
Health care is under pressure due to an aging population with an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Smoking and physical inactivity are 2 key preventable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Yet, as with most health behaviors, they are difficu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | JMIR Cardio |
| Online Access: | https://cardio.jmir.org/2024/1/e47730 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850254797927612416 |
|---|---|
| author | Anke Versluis Kristell M Penfornis Sven A van der Burg Bouke L Scheltinga Milon H M van Vliet Nele Albers Eline Meijer |
| author_facet | Anke Versluis Kristell M Penfornis Sven A van der Burg Bouke L Scheltinga Milon H M van Vliet Nele Albers Eline Meijer |
| author_sort | Anke Versluis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Health care is under pressure due to an aging population with an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Smoking and physical inactivity are 2 key preventable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Yet, as with most health behaviors, they are difficult to change. In the interdisciplinary Perfect Fit project, scientists from different fields join forces to develop an evidence-based virtual coach (VC) that supports smokers in quitting smoking and increasing their physical activity. In this Viewpoint paper, intervention content, design, and implementation, as well as lessons learned, are presented to support other research groups working on similar projects. A total of 6 different approaches were used and combined to support the development of the Perfect Fit VC. The approaches used are (1) literature reviews, (2) empirical studies, (3) collaboration with end users, (4) content and technical development sprints, (5) interdisciplinary collaboration, and (6) iterative proof-of-concept implementation. The Perfect Fit intervention integrates evidence-based behavior change techniques with new techniques focused on identity change, big data science, sensor technology, and personalized real-time coaching. Intervention content of the virtual coaching matches the individual needs of the end users. Lessons learned include ways to optimally implement and tailor interactions with the VC (eg, clearly explain why the user is asked for input and tailor the timing and frequency of the intervention components). Concerning the development process, lessons learned include strategies for effective interdisciplinary collaboration and technical development (eg, finding a good balance between end users’ wishes and legal possibilities). The Perfect Fit development process was collaborative, iterative, and challenging at times. Our experiences and lessons learned can inspire and benefit others. Advanced, evidence-based digital interventions, such as Perfect Fit, can contribute to a healthy society while alleviating health care burden. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8699e507ee34dfe9b56a7131083d14c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2561-1011 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Cardio |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8699e507ee34dfe9b56a7131083d14c2025-08-20T01:57:01ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Cardio2561-10112024-12-018e4773010.2196/47730Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical ActivityAnke Versluishttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9489-7925Kristell M Penfornishttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9758-9004Sven A van der Burghttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1250-6968Bouke L Scheltingahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4748-2321Milon H M van Vliethttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9036-6206Nele Albershttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0502-6176Eline Meijerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7078-5067 Health care is under pressure due to an aging population with an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Smoking and physical inactivity are 2 key preventable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Yet, as with most health behaviors, they are difficult to change. In the interdisciplinary Perfect Fit project, scientists from different fields join forces to develop an evidence-based virtual coach (VC) that supports smokers in quitting smoking and increasing their physical activity. In this Viewpoint paper, intervention content, design, and implementation, as well as lessons learned, are presented to support other research groups working on similar projects. A total of 6 different approaches were used and combined to support the development of the Perfect Fit VC. The approaches used are (1) literature reviews, (2) empirical studies, (3) collaboration with end users, (4) content and technical development sprints, (5) interdisciplinary collaboration, and (6) iterative proof-of-concept implementation. The Perfect Fit intervention integrates evidence-based behavior change techniques with new techniques focused on identity change, big data science, sensor technology, and personalized real-time coaching. Intervention content of the virtual coaching matches the individual needs of the end users. Lessons learned include ways to optimally implement and tailor interactions with the VC (eg, clearly explain why the user is asked for input and tailor the timing and frequency of the intervention components). Concerning the development process, lessons learned include strategies for effective interdisciplinary collaboration and technical development (eg, finding a good balance between end users’ wishes and legal possibilities). The Perfect Fit development process was collaborative, iterative, and challenging at times. Our experiences and lessons learned can inspire and benefit others. Advanced, evidence-based digital interventions, such as Perfect Fit, can contribute to a healthy society while alleviating health care burden.https://cardio.jmir.org/2024/1/e47730 |
| spellingShingle | Anke Versluis Kristell M Penfornis Sven A van der Burg Bouke L Scheltinga Milon H M van Vliet Nele Albers Eline Meijer Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity JMIR Cardio |
| title | Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity |
| title_full | Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity |
| title_fullStr | Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity |
| title_short | Targeting Key Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in At-Risk Individuals: Developing a Digital, Personalized, and Real-Time Intervention to Facilitate Smoking Cessation and Physical Activity |
| title_sort | targeting key risk factors for cardiovascular disease in at risk individuals developing a digital personalized and real time intervention to facilitate smoking cessation and physical activity |
| url | https://cardio.jmir.org/2024/1/e47730 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ankeversluis targetingkeyriskfactorsforcardiovasculardiseaseinatriskindividualsdevelopingadigitalpersonalizedandrealtimeinterventiontofacilitatesmokingcessationandphysicalactivity AT kristellmpenfornis targetingkeyriskfactorsforcardiovasculardiseaseinatriskindividualsdevelopingadigitalpersonalizedandrealtimeinterventiontofacilitatesmokingcessationandphysicalactivity AT svenavanderburg targetingkeyriskfactorsforcardiovasculardiseaseinatriskindividualsdevelopingadigitalpersonalizedandrealtimeinterventiontofacilitatesmokingcessationandphysicalactivity AT boukelscheltinga targetingkeyriskfactorsforcardiovasculardiseaseinatriskindividualsdevelopingadigitalpersonalizedandrealtimeinterventiontofacilitatesmokingcessationandphysicalactivity AT milonhmvanvliet targetingkeyriskfactorsforcardiovasculardiseaseinatriskindividualsdevelopingadigitalpersonalizedandrealtimeinterventiontofacilitatesmokingcessationandphysicalactivity AT nelealbers targetingkeyriskfactorsforcardiovasculardiseaseinatriskindividualsdevelopingadigitalpersonalizedandrealtimeinterventiontofacilitatesmokingcessationandphysicalactivity AT elinemeijer targetingkeyriskfactorsforcardiovasculardiseaseinatriskindividualsdevelopingadigitalpersonalizedandrealtimeinterventiontofacilitatesmokingcessationandphysicalactivity |