Acceptability of Robotic-Assisted Exercise Coaching in Diverse Youth (Preprint)
Authors: Patten Christi A. , Barwise Amelia K. , Bock Martha J. , Hughes Christine A. , Brockman Tabetha A. , Valdez Soto Miguel A. , Wi Chung Il , Juhn Young J. , Witt Daniel R. , Sinicrope Stephen , Kreps Samantha R. , Saling Henry D. , Levine James A. , Balls-Berry Joyce E. 
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Background: Almost 80% of adolescents do not achieve 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day recommended by current national guidelines. There is a need to develop and promote interventions that increase physical activity among adolescents. With increased interest in digital technologies among adolescents, robotic-assisted platforms are a novel and engaging strategy to deliver physical activity interventions.

OBJECTIVE

Objective: To assess the potential acceptability of robotic-assisted exercise coaching among diverse youth.

METHODS

Methods: This pilot study used a cross-sectional survey design. We recruited adolescents aged 12-17 at three community-based sites. Written informed consent was obtained from participants’ parents and assent from participants. Participants watched a brief demonstration of the robotic system human interface (i.e. robotic human trainer). The exercise coaching was delivered in real time via an iPad tablet placed atop a mobile robotic wheel base and controlled remotely by the coach using an iOS device or computer. Following the demonstration, participants completed a 28-item survey that assessed socio-demographics, smoking history, weight, exercise habits, and depression history, and included the 8-itemTechnology Acceptance Scale (TAS).

RESULTS

Results: Participants (N=190) were 54.5% (103/189) male, 43% (81/190) racial minority, 6% (11/190) Hispanic, and 28% (54/190) lived in a lower-income community. Their mean age was 15.0 years (SD=2.0). Approximately 25% (47/190) of participants met national recommendations for physical activity. Their mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.8 (SD 4.0). Of note, 18% (35/190) had experienced depression now or in the past. The mean Technology Acceptance Scale (TAS) total score was 32.8 (SD 7.8) of a possible score of 40, indicating high potential receptivity to the technology. No significant associations were detected between TAS score and gender, age, racial minority status, participant’s neighborhood, BMI, meeting national recommendations for physical activity levels, or depression history (all P>0.05). Of interest, 67.8% (129/190) of participants agreed that they and their friends were likely to use the robot to help them exercise.

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusion: This preliminary study found that among a racially and socioeconomically diverse group of adolescents, robotic-assisted exercise coaching is likely acceptable. The finding that all demographic groups represented had similarly high receptivity to the robotic human exercise trainer is encouraging for ultimate considerations of intervention scalability and reach among diverse adolescent populations. Next steps will be to evaluate feasibility and consumer uptake of the robotic-assisted exercise coaching for diverse youth and to assess the impact of robotic-assisted exercise coaching on exercise and health outcomes.