JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital health agents –- embodied conversational agents designed specifically for health interventions -- provide a promising alternative or supplement to behavioral health services by reducing barriers to access to care.

Objective:

Our goal was to understand the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of using an expressive speech-enabled digital health agent operating in a 3-dimensional virtual environment to deliver a brief behavioral health intervention over the Internet to reduce alcohol use.

Methods:

We asked 51 alcohol users to report on the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of using an expressive speech-enabled digital health agent operating in a 3-dimensional virtual environment to screen and provide brief motivational interviewing for alcohol use disorders.

Results:

Descriptive statistics indicate that participants had overwhelmingly positive experiences with the digital health agent, including engagement with the technology, acceptance, perceived utility and intent to use the technology. Illustrative qualitative quotes provide further insight about the potential reach and impact of digital health agents in behavioral health care.

Conclusions:

Web-delivered interventions delivered by expressive speech-enabled digital health agents may provide an exciting complement or alternative to traditional one-on-one treatment. They may be especially helpful for hard-to-reach communities with behavioral workforce shortages.