Can a Smartphone App That Includes a Chatbot-based Coaching and Incentives Increase Physical Activity in Healthy Adults?

Short (2-5 min.) dialogue with the digital coach who provides information relevant for behavioral self-regulation, such as a goal reminder, the distance between the current step count and the goal and strategies to increase daily steps. Participants are randomized to self-regulation coaching or control (no coaching) on a daily basis.

A dialogue with the digital coach who prompts the participant to either formulate action plans (when and where the participant can go for a walk) or coping plans (strategies to respond to barriers for increasing daily steps) for the upcoming week. Participants are randomized on a weekly basis to action planning, coping planning or control (no planning).

Participants receive CHF 1 ($1) for each day they meet a personalized adaptive step goal.

Participants donate CHF 1 ($1) to a charity of choice for each day they meet a personalized adaptive step goal.