Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
BMC Geriatr. 2022 Mar 25;22(1):248. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-02963-2.
The remote delivery and monitoring of individually-tailored exercise programs using voice-controlled intelligent personal assistants (VIPAs) that support conversation-based interactions may be an acceptable alternative model of digital health delivery for older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the enablers and barriers for older adults participating in a home-based exercise program delivered and monitored by VIPAs.
This qualitative study used videoconferencing to conduct semi-structured interviews following a 12-week, prospective single-arm pilot study in 15 adults aged 60 to 89 years living alone in the community. All participants were prescribed an individualized, brief (10 min, 2-4 times per day), home-based muscle strengthening and balance exercise program delivered and monitored using an Amazon Echo Show 5 device (Alexa). Qualitative interview data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
All 15 participants (aged 70.3 ± 4.3 years, mean ± SD) attended the semi-structured interview. Themes including enjoyability and ease of use, social engagement and motivation were enablers for participation in the exercise program. Errors in voice recognition, lack of feedback, and preference for other existing digital health modes of exercise delivery were barriers associated with the Alexa technology.
This qualitative study identified enablers and barriers associated with using an Alexa device to deliver and monitor an individualized, home-based exercise program in older adults living alone. Future interventions using VIPAs should focus on reducing technical errors, providing regular exercise feedback, and comparing participants' experiences of exercise programs delivered by VIPAs to programs delivered via other digital health tools.
使用支持基于对话的交互的语音控制智能个人助理 (VIPA) 远程提供和监测针对个体定制的锻炼计划可能是老年人数字健康交付的一种可接受的替代模式。本研究的目的是评估老年人参与基于家庭的锻炼计划的促进因素和障碍，该计划由 VIPA 提供和监测。
这项定性研究使用视频会议，在对 15 名年龄在 60 至 89 岁、独自居住在社区的成年人进行为期 12 周的前瞻性单臂试点研究后，进行半结构化访谈。所有参与者都接受了个性化的、简短的（每次 10 分钟，每天 2-4 次）、基于家庭的肌肉强化和平衡锻炼计划，该计划使用亚马逊 Echo Show 5 设备（Alexa）提供和监测。使用归纳主题分析对定性访谈数据进行分析。
所有 15 名参与者（年龄 70.3 ± 4.3 岁，均值 ± 标准差）均参加了半结构化访谈。主题包括享受和易用性、社交参与和动机是参与锻炼计划的促进因素。语音识别错误、缺乏反馈以及对其他现有数字健康锻炼交付模式的偏好是与 Alexa 技术相关的障碍。
这项定性研究确定了在独居老年人中使用 Alexa 设备提供和监测个体化家庭锻炼计划的促进因素和障碍。未来使用 VIPA 的干预措施应侧重于减少技术错误、提供定期锻炼反馈，并将参与者对 VIPA 提供的锻炼计划的体验与通过其他数字健康工具提供的计划进行比较。
