Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Aging, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura per Anziani, 60124 Ancona, Italy.
Model of Care and New Technologies, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura per Anziani, 60124 Ancona, Italy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 14;18(18):9681. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189681.
Retirement is recognized as a factor influencing the ageing process. Today, virtual health coaching systems can play a pivotal role in supporting older adults' active and healthy ageing. This study wants to answer two research questions: (1) What are the user requirements of a virtual coach (VC) based on an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) for motivating older adults in transition to retirement to adopt a healthy lifestyle? (2) How could a VC address the active and healthy ageing dimensions, even during COVID-19 times?
Two-wave focus-groups with 60 end-users aged 55 and over and 27 follow-up telephone interviews were carried out in Austria, Italy and the Netherlands in 2019-2020. Qualitative data were analysed by way of framework analysis.
End-users suggest the VC should motivate older workers and retirees to practice physical activity, maintain social contacts and emotional well-being. The ECA should be reactive, customizable, expressive, sympathetic, not directive nor patronizing, with a pleasant and motivating language. The COVID-19 outbreak increased the users' need for functions boosting community relationships and promoting emotional well-being.
the VC can address the active and healthy ageing paradigm by increasing the chances of doing low-cost healthy activities at any time and in any place.
退休被认为是影响衰老过程的一个因素。如今，虚拟健康教练系统可以在支持老年人积极健康老龄化方面发挥关键作用。本研究旨在回答两个研究问题：（1）基于体现式对话代理（ECA）的虚拟教练（VC）应该具备哪些功能，才能激励即将退休的老年人采用健康的生活方式？（2）即使在 COVID-19 期间，VC 如何能够满足积极健康老龄化的各个方面？
2019-2020 年，在奥地利、意大利和荷兰进行了两轮有 60 名 55 岁及以上的最终用户和 27 次后续电话访谈的焦点小组。通过框架分析对定性数据进行了分析。
最终用户建议 VC 应激励老年工人和退休人员进行体育锻炼、保持社交联系和情绪健康。ECA 应该具有反应性、可定制性、表达性、同理心、不具有指令性或施惠性、语言愉快且有激励性。COVID-19 爆发增加了用户对增强社区关系和促进情绪健康功能的需求。
VC 可以通过增加随时随地进行低成本健康活动的机会来满足积极健康老龄化的模式。
