Drinker's Check-Up (DCU) is an evidence-based intervention based on motivational interviewing. Users start by providing detailed information about their drinking. They receive individualized feedback which includes information on consequences and risk factors of alcohol abuse. Lastly, they resolve their ambivalence about whether to change their drinking, plan for a change, and set goals for change. DCU can be delivered by a digital health agent.

Drinker's Check-Up

Embodied conversational health agents must be able to display similar communication and psycholinguistic skills as counselors and other addiction providers to provide effective care. Agents can be coded to provide responsive and empathetic verbal reflections and non-verbal behaviors such as nodding to display active listening, a core counseling skill.

Empathic Verbal and Nonverbal Behavior in Embodied Digital Health Agents

Cleveland State University

Digital Health Agents are conversational agents (sometimes called chatbots) that are designed specifically for health interventions. When paired with a simulated human character, they are called Embodied Conversational Agents.

Embodied Conversational Digital Health Agents

Boustani M, Lunn S, Visser U & Lisetti C. (2021).
Development, Feasibility, Acceptability, and Utility of an Expressive Speech-Enabled Digital Health Agent to Deliver Online, Brief Motivational Interviewing for Alcohol Misuse: Descriptive Study.
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23 (9).
https://www.jmir.org/2021/9/e25837

Development, Feasibility, Acceptability, and Utility of an Expressive Speech-Enabled Digital Health Agent to Deliver Online, Brief Motivational Interviewing for Alcohol Misuse: Descriptive Study

Embodied Digital Health Agent System Overview

Digital health agents can circumvent several common barriers to treatment, such as scheduling and transportation. Embodied agents can run on several different tech platforms, such as desktops and cell phones, and are not limited to specific appointment times as human providers are. Agents can be and are programmed to deliver evidence-based treatment, which can ensure care rooted in research is being given. Additionally, embodied agents can be racially and culturally diverse, which may affect treatment outcomes.

How Digital Health Agents May Overcome Barriers to Care for Alcohol Abuse

Providers, including embodied conversational health agents, can deliver Brief Motivational Interviewing characterized by the acronym FRAMES:

F- Feedback about client’s individual status is personalized and stored in a user model database, keeping a record of their answers for the next session.

R- Responsibility for changing is left with the individual.

A- Advice is provided in a supportive manner and paired with empathetic words and body language.

M- Menus of different options for change are offered.

E- Empathy via verbal and nonverbal language.

S- Self-efficacy is encouraged and nurtured.

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