FysBot - A Chatbot-Assisted App for Increasing Physical Activity Behaviour

Description

This project will explore motivating individuals to increase their physical activity behaviour through an innovative app featuring a ChatGPT-based chatbot tailored to potential users’ preferences. Chatbots are computer software programs that aim to simulate a human conversation and engage users in an interactive, supportive dialogue. By leveraging existing artificial intelligence (AI)- powered chatbots, we can provide a scalable, cost-effective way to promote physical activity across diverse populations.

Regular physical activity has several benefits, including better management of chronic conditions, improved mental health, economic growth, and improved overall health and quality of life. Therefore, a chatbot-assisted app that encourages physical activity behaviour could serve as a powerful tool to strengthen public health efforts to promote physical activity in Norway - and potentially worldwide.

Goals

To determine the feasibility of a ChatGPT-based chatbot for increasing physical activity behaviour.

Concrete objectives:

• Explore obese individuals’ preferences and integrate these into a chatbot-assisted physical activity app - FysBot.
• Explore whether a chatbot-assisted physical activity app that integrates users’ preferences can be used by obese individuals and generate a change in physical activity behaviour.
• Explore users’ satisfaction with FysBot.

Method

The project is a mixed-methods study involving both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.

There are five work packages (WP):
 

• WP1 - Interviews about users' preferences
• WP2 - Developing the chatbot-assisted physical activity app prototype - FysBot
• WP3 - Pilot study: Eligible participants will be enrolled in a 6-week study where they use the FysBot app
• WP4 - Physical activity behaviour change assessment
• WP5 - Interviews to explore users’ satisfaction with FysBot

Conclusion

FysBot is expected to increase physical activity behaviour, which may contribute to chronic disease prevention and management, enhance knowledge and available services for increasing physical activity, and lower healthcare costs. A chatbot-assisted physical activity app proven to be feasible for increasing physical activity behaviour could be used on a larger scale across Norway and extended to other lifestyle behaviours like improving diet, reducing substance abuse, and promoting preventive measures.