Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-health Solutions pp 163–181Cite as

Designing Persuasive Health Behavior Change Interventions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Healthcare Delivery in the Information Age ((Healthcare Delivery Inform. Age))

Abstract

In the past decade, the utilization of various technologies to change individuals’ health behaviors has been a rapidly expanding field of interest. Examples of persuasive technologies can be found rather easily as there are a variety of Internet-, Web- and mobile-based systems and applications promoting healthier lifestyles. Still, the use of persuasive technology in the E-health arena is in its infancy. While the field is expanding, it is evident that more research is needed to better determine how the systems affect users’ intended behaviors. This book chapter outlines several important perspectives in designing and developing persuasive health behavior change interventions. Furthermore, this chapter offers novel viewpoints, both theoretical and practical, in designing and developing health behavior change interventions. In addition, useful underlying theories and design models are identified and discussed. This type of knowledge may assist in building, deploying and evaluating behavior change support systems that are able to engage and retain large amounts of individuals, potentially enhancing population health and well-being.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    We use the term computer for the sake of simplicity; it also includes e.g. mo-bile/smart/tracking/monitoring/wearable devices.

  2. 2.

    http://www.danlockton.com/dwi/. Accessed Aug 25, 2010.

References

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atienza, A. A., Hesse, B. W., Gustafson, D. H., & Croyle, R. T. (2010). E-health research and patient-centered care examining theory, methods, and application. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38(1), 85–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1991). Social cognitive theory of self-regulation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 248–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1998). Health promotion from the perspective of social cognitive theory. Psychology & Health, 13(4), 623–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barak, A., Klein, B., & Proudfoot, J. G. (2009). Defining internet-supported therapeutic interventions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 38(1), 4–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, G. G., & Glasgow, R. E. (2009). The delivery of public health interventions via the internet: Actualizing their potential. Annual Review of Public Health, 30, 273–292.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bewick, B. M., Trusler, K., Barkham, M., Hill, A. J., Cahill, J., & Mulhern, B. (2008). The effectiveness of web-based interventions designed to decrease alcohol consumption–a systematic review. Preventive Medicine, 47(1), 17–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brendryen, H., Drozd, F., & Kraft, P. (2008). A digital smoking cessation program delivered through internet and cell phone without nicotine replacement (happy ending): Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10(5), e51.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brendryen, H., & Kraft, P. (2008). Happy ending: A randomized controlled trial of a digital multi-media smoking cessation intervention. Addiction, 103(3), 478–484. discussion 485–476.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brendryen, H., Kraft, P., & Schaalma, H. (2010). Looking inside the black box: Using intervention mapping to describe the development of the automated smoking cessation intervention ‘happy ending’. Journal of Smoking Cessation, 5(1), 29–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, N. T., & Rimer, B. K. (2008). Perspectives on health behavior theories that focus on individuals. In K. Glanz, B. K. Rimer, & K. Viswanath (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 149–162). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briñol, P., & Petty, R. E. (2009). Persuasion: Insights from the self-validation hypothesis. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (pp. 69–118). New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cappella, J. N. (2006). Integrating message effects and behavior change theories: Organizing comments and unanswered questions. Journal of Communication, 56(s1), S265–S279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee, S., & Price, A. (2009). Healthy living with persuasive technologies: Framework, issues, and challenges. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 16(2), 171.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S., & Chaiken, S. (1999). The heuristic-systematic model in its broader context. Dual-process theories in social psychology, 73–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Consolvo, S., Everitt, K., Smith, I., & Landay, J. A. (2006). Design requirements for technologies that encourage physical activity. Paper presented at the proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Consolvo, S., McDonald, D. W., & Landay, J. A. (2009). Theory-driven design strategies for technologies that support behavior change in everyday life. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 27th international conference on human factors in computing systems, Boston, MA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dey, A. K. (2001). Understanding and using context. Personal and ubiquitous computing, 5(1), 4–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein, M., & Cappella, J. (2006). The role of theory in developing effective health communications. Journal of Communication, 56(s1), S1–S17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein, M., & Yzer, M. (2003). Using theory to design effective health behavior interventions. Communication Theory, 13(2), 164–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fogg, B. (2009a). A behavior model for persuasive design. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 4th international conference on persuasive technology, Claremont, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogg, B. (2009b). Creating persuasive technologies: An eight-step design process. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 4th international conference on persuasive technology, Claremont, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glanz, K., & Bishop, D. B. (2010). The role of behavioral science theory in development and implementation of public health interventions. Annual Review of Public Health, 31, 399–418.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glasgow, R. E., Vogt, T. M., & Boles, S. M. (1999). Evaluating the public health impact of health promotion interventions: The re-aim framework. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 1322–1327.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harjumaa, M., Segerståhl, K., & Oinas-Kukkonen, H. (2009). Understanding persuasive software functionality in practice: A field trial of polar ft60. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 4th international conference on persuasive technology, Claremont, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey-Berino, J., Pintauro, S., Buzzell, P., & Gold, E. C. (2004). Effect of internet support on the long-term maintenance of weight loss. Obesity Research, 12(2), 320–329.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey-Berino, J., West, D., Krukowski, R., Prewitt, E., VanBiervliet, A., Ashikaga, T., & Skelly, J. (2010). Internet delivered behavioral obesity treatment. Preventive Medicine, 51(2), 123–128.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hevner, A., March, S., Park, J., & Ram, S. (2004). Design science in information systems research. MIS Quarterly, 28(1), 75–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurling, R., Catt, M., De Boni, M., Fairley, B. W., Hurst, T., Murray, P., Richardson, A., & Sodhi, J. S. (2007). Using internet and mobile phone technology to deliver an automated physical activity program: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 9(2):e7. http://www.jmir.org/2007/2/e7/

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janz, N. K., & Becker, M. H. (1984). The health belief model: A decade later. Health Education Quarterly, 11(1), 1–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaptein, M., Lacroix, J., & Saini, P. (2010). Individual differences in persuadability in the health promotion domain. In T. Ploug, P. Hasle, & H. Oinas-Kukkonen (Eds.), Persuasive technology (pp. 94–105). Lecture notes in computer science. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreps, G. L., & Neuhauser, L. (2010). New directions in ehealth communication: Opportunities and challenges. Patient Education and Counseling, 78(3), 329–336.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kroeze, W., Werkman, A., & Brug, J. (2006). A systematic review of randomized trials on the effectiveness of computer-tailored education on physical activity and dietary behaviors. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 31(3), 205–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kruglanski, A., & Thompson, E. (1999). Persuasion by a single route: A view from the unimodel. Psychological Inquiry, 10(2), 83–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krukowski, R. A., Harvey-Berino, J., Ashikaga, T., Thomas, C. S., & Micco, N. (2008). Internet-based weight control: The relationship between web features and weight loss. Telemedicine and e-Health, 14(8), 775–782.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuziemsky, C. E., Downing, G. M., Black, F. M., & Lau, F. (2007). A grounded theory guided approach to palliative care systems design. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 76(Suppl 1), S141–S148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lehto, T., & Oinas-Kukkonen, H. (2009). The persuasiveness of web-based alcohol interventions. In Godart Claude, Gronau Norbert, Sharma Sushil, & Canals Gérôme (Eds.), Software services for e-business and e-society (IFIP advances in information and communication technology, pp. 316–327). Boston: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lehto, T., & Oinas-Kukkonen, H. (2010). Persuasive features in six weight loss websites: A qualitative evaluation. In T. Ploug, P. Hasle, Harri Oinas-Kukkonen (Eds.), Persuasive technology, (pp. 162–173). Lecture notes in computer science. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, J., Mamykina, L., Lindtner, S., Delajoux, G., & Strub, H. (2006). Fish’n’steps: Encouraging physical activity with an interactive computer game. In P. Dourish, & A. Friday (Eds.), Ubicomp 2006: Ubiquitous computing, (pp. 261–278). Lecture notes in computer science. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation. A 35-year odyssey. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705–717.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lockton, D., Harrison, D., Holley, T., & Stanton, N. A. (2009). Influencing interaction: Development of the design with intent method. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 4th international conference on persuasive technology, Claremont, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockton, D., Harrison, D., & Stanton, N. (2008). Design with intent: Persuasive technology in a wider context. In H. Oinas-Kukkonen, P. Hasle, M. Harjumaa, K. Segerståhl, & P. Øhrstrøm (Eds.), Persuasive technology (pp. 274–278). Lecture notes in computer science. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lustria, M. L., Cortese, J., Noar, S. M., & Glueckauf, R. L. (2009). Computer-tailored health interventions delivered over the web: Review and analysis of key components. Patient Education and Counseling, 74(2), 156–173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neuhauser, L., & Kreps, G. (2003). Rethinking communication in the e-health era. Journal of Health Psychology, 8(1), 7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neville, L. M., O’Hara, B., & Milat, A. J. (2009). Computer-tailored dietary behaviour change interventions: A systematic review. Health Education Research, 24(4), 699–720.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norman, G. J., Zabinski, M. F., Adams, M. A., Rosenberg, D. E., Yaroch, A. L., & Atienza, A. A. (2007). A review of ehealth interventions for physical activity and dietary behavior change. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33(4), 336–345.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Keefe, D. J. (2001). Persuasion. In T. O. Sloane, S. Bartsch, T. B. Farrell, & H. F. Plett (Eds.), Encyclopedia of rhetoric (pp. 575–583). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oinas-Kukkonen, H. (2010). Behavior change support systems: A research model and agenda. Persuasive Technology, Vol. 6137, 4–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oinas-Kukkonen, H., & Harjumaa, M. (2009). Persuasive systems design: Key issues, process model, and system features. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 24(1), 28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagliari, C. (2007). Design and evaluation in ehealth: Challenges and implications for an interdisciplinary field. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 9(2), e15.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peffers, K., Tuunanen, T., Rothenberger, M., & Chatterjee, S. (2007). A design science research methodology for information systems research. Journal of Management Information Systems, 24(3), 45–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petty, R., & Cacioppo, J. (1986). The elaboration likelihood model of persuasion. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 19(1), 123–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Picard, R. (2003). Affective computing: Challenges. International Journal of Human Computer Studies, 59(1–2), 55–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pingree, S., Hawkins, R., Baker, T., duBenske, L., Roberts, L. J., & Gustafson, D. H. (2010). The value of theory for enhancing and understanding e-health interventions. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38(1), 103–109.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Portnoy, D. B., Scott-Sheldon, L. A., Johnson, B. T., & Carey, M. P. (2008). Computer-delivered interventions for health promotion and behavioral risk reduction: A meta-analysis of 75 randomized controlled trials, 1988–2007. Preventive Medicine, 47(1), 3–16.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prochaska, J., Johnson, S., & Lee, P. (1997). The transtheoretical model of behavior change. American Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1), 38–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Resnicow, K., Strecher, V., Couper, M., Chua, H., Little, R., Nair, V., Polk, T. A., & Atienza, A. A. (2010). Methodologic and design issues in patient-centered e-health research. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38(1), 98–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ritterband, L. M., Thorndike, F. P., Cox, D. J., Kovatchev, B. P., & Gonder-Frederick, L. A. (2009). A behavior change model for internet interventions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 38(1), 18–27.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenstock, I., Strecher, V., & Becker, M. (1988). Social learning theory and the health belief model. Health Education & Behavior, 15(2), 175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shahab, L., & McEwen, A. (2009). Online support for smoking cessation: A systematic review of the literature. Addiction, 104(11), 1792–1804.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tate, D., Jackvony, E., & Wing, R. (2003). Effects of internet behavioral counseling on weight loss in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes: A randomized trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 289(14), 1833–1836.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai, A. G., & Wadden, T. A. (2005). Systematic review: An evaluation of major commercial weight loss programs in the united states. Annals of Internal Medicine, 142(1), 56–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tufano, J. T., & Karras, B. T. (2005). Mobile ehealth interventions for obesity: A timely opportunity to leverage convergence trends. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 7(5), e58.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van den Berg, M. H., Vliet Vlieland, T. P. M., & Schoones, J. W. (2007). Internet-based physical activity interventions: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 9(3):e26. http://www.jmir.org/2007/3/e26/

    Google Scholar 

  • van Straten, A., Cuijpers, P., & Smits, N. (2008). Effectiveness of a web-based self-help intervention for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10(1), e7.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandelanotte, C., Spathonis, K. M., Eakin, E. G., & Owen, N. (2007). Website-delivered physical activity interventions a review of the literature. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33(1), 54–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, T. L., Joseph, J., Yardley, L., & Michie, S. (2010). Using the internet to promote health behavior change: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of theoretical basis, use of behavior change techniques, and mode of delivery on efficacy. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 12(1), e4.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Womble, L. G., Wadden, T. A., McGuckin, B. G., Sargent, S. L., Rothman, R. A., & Krauthamer-Ewing, E. S. (2004). A randomized controlled trial of a commercial internet weight loss program. Obesity Research, 12(6), 1011–1018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J. (2005). Human-centered computing in health information systems. Part 1: Analysis and design. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 38(1), 1–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Professor Harri Oinas-Kukkonen for guidance of the research and for comments on this book chapter. The author wishes to express his gratitude to the Graduate School on Software and Information Systems (SoSE) and the SalWe Research Program for Mind and Body (The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation grant 1104/10) for funding parts of this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oulu Advanced Research on Software and Information Systems, Department of Information Processing Science, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Tuomas Lehto

Authors
  1. Tuomas Lehto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tuomas Lehto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. RMIT University, School of Business Information Technolog, Melbourne VIC, Australia

    Nilmini Wickramasinghe

  2. Coventry University, Health Design and Technology Institute (, COVENTRY West Midlands, United Kingdom

    Rajeev Bali

  3. Dept. Management, Turku School of Economics & Business Administration, Turku, Finland

    Reima Suomi

  4. Lehrst. Wirtschaftsinformatik II (510 O), Universität Hohenheim Fak. Wirtschafts-/Sozialwissenschaften, Stuttgart, Germany

    Stefan Kirn

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lehto, T. (2012). Designing Persuasive Health Behavior Change Interventions. In: Wickramasinghe, N., Bali, R., Suomi, R., Kirn, S. (eds) Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-health Solutions. Healthcare Delivery in the Information Age. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1536-7_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1536-7_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-1535-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-1536-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation