Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .
Automated interventions for multiple health behaviors using conversational agents.
OBJECTIVE An automated health counselor agent was design ed to promote both physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption through a series of simulated conversations with users on their home computers . METHODS The agent was evaluated in a 4-arm r and omized trial of a two-month daily contact intervention comparing : ( a )  physical activity ;  ( b )  fruit and vegetable consumption ; ( c ) both interventions ; and ( d ) a non-intervention control .  Physical activity was assessed using daily pedometer steps . Daily servings of fruit and vegetables were assessed using the NIH/NCI self-report Fruit and Vegetable Scan . RESULTS Participants in the physical activity intervention increased their walking on average compared to the control group , while those in the fruit and vegetable intervention and combined intervention decreased walking . Participants in the fruit and vegetable intervention group consumed significantly more servings per day compared to those in the control group , and those in the combined intervention reported consuming more compared to those in the control group . CONCLUSION Automated health intervention software design ed for efficient re-use is effective at changing health behavior . PRACTICE IMPLICATION S Automated health behavior change interventions can be design ed to facilitate translation and adaptation across multiple behaviors
Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .