JITAIs: Optimization of Effectiveness

Measuring, Analyzing and Mapping Environmental Influences on (and Changes in) Spatial Patterns: Evidence for Just-in-time Adaptive Interventions

JITAIs have already been developed in the fields of physical activity, smoking, alcohol use and mental illness. Within these fields, results were promising since JITAIs have proven to be effective in changing behaviour. Until now, no JITAIs have been developed that primarily focus on eating behaviour and it is expected that this type of interventions yields great potential in changing eating behaviour. In this pilot study we test our app with the aim to get insight into what factors influence the receptiveness of people. Receptiveness is the person's ability to receive, process, and use the support provided, which is a prerequisite to achieve behaviour change. In the pilot study we want to investigate when and where the right time is to send notifications to people and for what type of interventions people are most receptive. We want to include the inhabitants of Wageningen in our study who will test our app for 2 weeks. In the first week nothing is expected from the participants, but their movement patterns are collected via GPS; the participants are their own control for the Just-In-Time principle. In the second week the participants receive notifications (i.e., a healthy recipe, a tip for the healthier option at a certain location) based on their selected goal (eating more vegetables, eating less meat, less unhealthy snacking). After receiving the notification, participants are asked to answer several questions. At the end of the day, participants are asked to give us more insight in what they like and dislike to receive, at which locations, at what times, how many times a day, and their reasons behind this. With this data we can further develop the app (co-creation). The results of the study will be analysed within persons to visualize patterns. A second goal is to test if the movement patterns of participants can be used to objectively measure if interventions are effective in the future. The movement patterns will be analysed with the use of different algorithms, to see if and how movement patterns can say anything about the behaviour of people (stopping, standing still, alter routes). The movement patterns can be linked to received interventions, locations and receptivity. Within this pilot study, people are not asked to alter their behaviour. Participants do receive notifications that are focussed on making healthier eating choices, but we do not expect any behavioural changes within one week. The goal of the study is to get better insight into the best way to respond to the Just-In-Time principle. Participants will receive zero to several notifications a day for a period of 1 week.

All participants will first use the app one week without receiving just-in-time notifications. Their movement patterns are collected through GPS. In the second week, they will receive just-in-time notifications based on their chosen goal. Participants will act as their own control group.

The receptiveness is measured with short questions after each prompt on whether the prompt is opportune.

Questions on receptiveness are send after every prompt during one week (second week of the study). Dependent on how many locations people visit at which they receive a prompt.

Inclusion Criteria: Open or motivated to improve their eating behaviour (as this is the target group of the final developed app) Older than 18 years old Living in Wageningen Is able to understand and speak Dutch Having an Android phone Exclusion Criteria: Does not have a specific goal to improve eating behaviour Is under 18 years old Does not live in Wageningen Does not speak and/or understand Dutch Does not have an android phone