Adaptive experiments and digital tools for behavioral health interventions

Abstract
Adopting healthy behaviors, particularly adequate diet, mindfulness, and physical activity, is paramount to preventing chronic illness. Hundreds of programs and policies are implemented routinely on populations of all ages to encourage behavior adoption and maintenance. Over a wide range of intervention designs, evidence shows that (1) average effects often mask substantial heterogeneity in individual behaviors and (2) group-based in-person interventions are likely to be more effective, although at a larger unit cost. With the massification of digital technologies and increasing internet content, behavioral health interventions began to explore the use of software to optimize resource allocation, enhance program delivery, and tailor treatment to user’s outcomes and daily activities. This seminar covers the current evidence on the impact of digital tools using adaptative experiments to promote the adoption of two well-studied health behaviors: adequate diet and physical activity.

To join this online seminar please contact healtheconomics@ese.eur.nl