Partners HealthCare has been awarded a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for the development of a novel “Engagement Engine” to support the sustained use of health and activity trackers and engagement in physical activity, in order to improve health outcomes in the general population.
Although personal health technologies are widely available and have proven to increase physical activity, they are not broadly used, or users discontinue them after a short period. Helping consumers overcome barriers to successfully incorporate trackers in their day-to-day lives could help improve the health of a large segment of the population.
The Engagement Engine will leverage machine learning and other big data analytic tools to convert insights from users into targeted feedback.“Our patients are also consumers, and this engagement tool will allow us to interact with them in a new way, helping prevent the onset of chronic disease by enabling them to adopt healthy lifestyles,” said Kamal Jethwani, MD, MPH, Senior Director of Connected Health Innovation at Partners HealthCare, and Principal Investigator on this project.
Researchers at Partners HealthCare will begin by developing and testing an algorithm for identifying, purchasing and using a physical activity tracker, and then establishing and sustaining a personalized physical activity plan. The Engagement Engine will leverage machine learning and other big data analytic tools to convert insights from users into targeted feedback. Once the engine is developed, a representative sampling of adults between the ages of 18 and 65, with BMI (body mass index) 25-35 will be recruited to participate in a study to validate it empirically. The Engagement Engine will be available online through Partners’ Wellocracy services, which was created to educate and empower individuals to use activity trackers.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the largest philanthropy in the U.S. focused solely on health, with the goal of improving the health and health care of all Americans.