Defining participant exposure measures in Web-based health behavior change programs
Brian G Danaher1, Shawn M Boles, Laura Akers
1Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. briand@ori.org
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|September 7, 2006
Summary
Participants using an enhanced Web-based program for smokeless tobacco cessation visited more and engaged longer than those using a basic website. Exposure measures are key to understanding engagement in digital health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health Interventions
- Behavior Change Programs
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Web-based behavior change programs are increasingly researched.
- Participant engagement, measured by website visits and time spent, is often low.
- Measuring participant exposure to program content is crucial for understanding engagement and improving interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Define and describe participant exposure patterns in a Web-based smokeless tobacco cessation trial (ChewFree.com).
- Compare exposure metrics between an enhanced and a basic website condition.
Main Methods:
- Examined participant exposure in a randomized controlled trial comparing an enhanced (interactive, tailored) versus a basic (static) Web-based program.
- Measured email prompting, website visits (frequency, duration, pattern), and Web page views (content, forum activity).
Main Results:
- Participants in the enhanced condition had more visits and longer access times compared to the basic condition.
- Exposure data confirmed that basic condition users engaged thoroughly with content, validating it as a control.
Conclusions:
- Researchers should incorporate exposure measures into evaluations of Web-based interventions.
- Analyzing exposure data within the context of program engagement helps assess content utilization.
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