Coaching Through Technology: A Systematic Review into Efficacy and Effectiveness for the Ageing Population

Roberta Bevilacqua, Sara Casaccia, Gabriella Cortellessa, Arlene Astell, Fabrizia Lattanzio, Andrea Corsonello, Paola D’Ascoli, Susy Paolini, Mirko Di Rosa, Lorena Rossi and Elvira Maranesi
Additional contact information
Roberta Bevilacqua: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Sara Casaccia: Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy
Gabriella Cortellessa: CNR–Italian National Research Council, ISTC, 00185 Rome, Italy
Arlene Astell: Occupaitonal Sciences & Occupational Therapy, Univeristy of Toronto, Toronto, M5G 2A2 ON, Canada
Fabrizia Lattanzio: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Andrea Corsonello: Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology and Biostatistics, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Paola D’Ascoli: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Susy Paolini: Unit of Neurology, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Mirko Di Rosa: Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology and Biostatistics, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Lorena Rossi: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Elvira Maranesi: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: Background : Despite the evidence on the positive role of self-management, the adoption of health coaching strategies for older people is still limited. To address these gaps, recent efforts have been made in the ICT sector in order to develop systems for delivering coaching and overcoming barriers relating to scarcity of resources. The aim of this review is to examine the efficacy of personal health coaching systems for older adults using digital virtual agents. Methods : A systematic review of the literature was conducted in December 2019 analyzing manuscripts from four databases over the last 10 years. Nine papers were included. Results : Despite the low number of studies, there was evidence that technology-integrated interventions can deliver benefits for health over usual care. However, the review raises important questions about how to maintain benefits and permanence of behavior change produced by short-term interventions. Conclusion : These systems offer a potential tool to reduce costs, minimize therapist burden and training, and expand the range of clients who can benefit from them. It is desirable that in the future the number of studies will grow, considering other aspects such as the role of the virtual coaches’ characteristics, social-presence, empathy, usability, and health literacy.

Keywords: coaching; technology-integrated intervention; older people; self-management; Intrinsic Capacity; virtual agent; avatar; robot; health literacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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