Grant Number:	5R01CA119195-03 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Velicer, Wayne
Organization:	University Of Rhode Island
Project Title:	Online Tailored Interventions & Relational Agents for Exercise and Sun Protection
Fiscal Year:	2009

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overarching goal of this research project is to revise and enhance a multimedia computer-based multiple risk factor intervention for cancer prevention, using the internet to reach a general population. Two innovative, individualized, easily disseminated, low-cost, and interactive interventions, both for multiple behaviors (sun protection and exercise adoption), will be developed and evaluated in comparison to a control condition. The first intervention involves adapting our effective multimedia expert system interventions to the internet environment. The second intervention builds on the first with the additional inclusion of a Relational Agent, a recently developed computer-based approach to establishing a personal relationship typically missing on internet sites. Both systems will employ the same theoretical model of behavior change, the Transtheoretical Model, as the deep knowledge, and all systems will employ empirically based decision rules. The design is a 3 Group (Control, Internet, Internet plus Relational Agent) x 3 Occasions (0, 12, 24 Months) with intervention occurring during the first 12 months. A representative national sample of 1639 individuals at risk for both behaviors will be recruited. The primary aims are: (1) To develop and assess the effectiveness of a tailored internet intervention on a national sample; (2) To develop and assess the effectiveness of the internet intervention enhanced by a relational agent; and (3) To determine if the intervention with the relational agent can outperform the regular tailored internet intervention. The secondary aims are: (1) To determine if the two interventions are differentially effective with each behavior and with different subgroups, and (2) To determine if the relational agent intervention is utilized more often for increasing exercise than for sun protection. This study targets two major risk factors for cancer; is designed to treat the behaviors on a population basis, using proactive recruitment strategies; intervenes on multiple behaviors simultaneously, thereby producing greater impacts for cancer prevention; utilizes one of the most promising approaches to low cost population based interventions for health-related behavior change, namely the internet; and develops and tests a promising new approach to increasing the utilization and effectiveness of internet-based interventions, relational agents.




Using Relational Agents to Promote Exercise and Sun Protection: Assessment of Participants' Experiences With Two Interventions.
Authors: Sillice M.A. , Morokoff P.J. , Ferszt G. , Bickmore T. , Bock B.C. , Lantini R. , Velicer W.F. .
Source: Journal Of Medical Internet Research, 2018-02-07 00:00:00.0; 20(2), p. e48.
EPub date: 2018-02-07 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 29415873
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Reducing Sun Exposure For Prevention Of Skin Cancers: Factorial Invariance And Reliability Of The Self-efficacy Scale For Sun Protection
Authors: Babbin S.F. , Yin H.Q. , Rossi J.S. , Redding C.A. , Paiva A.L. , Velicer W.F. .
Source: Journal Of Skin Cancer, 2015; 2015, p. 862732.
PMID: 26457203
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Testing Demographic Differences For Alcohol Use Initiation Among Adolescents For The Decisional Balance And Situational Temptation Prevention Inventories
Authors: Sillice M.A. , Paiva A.L. , Babbin S.F. , McGee H.A. , Rossi J.S. , Redding C.A. , Meier K.S. , Oatley K. , Velicer W.F. .
Source: Addictive Behaviors, 2014 Sep; 39(9), p. 1367-71.
PMID: 24916916
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Validity and stability of the decisional balance for sun protection inventory.
Authors: Yin H.Q. , Rossi J.S. , Redding C.A. , Paiva A.L. , Babbin S.F. , Velicer W.F. .
Source: Journal Of Skin Cancer, 2014; 2014, p. 190541.
PMID: 25548678
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Multiple Behavior Interventions To Prevent Substance Abuse And Increase Energy Balance Behaviors In Middle School Students
Authors: Velicer W.F. , Redding C.A. , Paiva A.L. , Mauriello L.M. , Blissmer B. , Oatley K. , Meier K.S. , Babbin S.F. , McGee H. , Prochaska J.O. , et al. .
Source: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 2013 Mar; 3(1), p. 82-93.
PMID: 23585821
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Outcomes Of Cluster Profiles Within Stages Of Change For Sun Protection Behavior
Authors: Santiago-Rivas M. , Velicer W.F. , Redding C.A. , Prochaska J.O. , Paiva A.L. .
Source: Psychology, Health & Medicine, 2013; 18(4), p. 471-81.
PMID: 23347424
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Prevention Of Smoking In Middle School Students: Psychometric Assessment Of The Temptations To Try Smoking Scale
Authors: McGee,H.A. , Babbin,S.F. , Redding,C. , Paiva,A. , Oatley,K. , Meier,K.S. , Harrington,M. , Velicer,W.F. .
Source: Addictive Behaviors, 2012 Apr; 37(4), p. 521-3.
PMID: 22265238
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Cluster Subtypes Within The Precontemplation Stage Of Change For Sun Protection Behavior
Authors: Santiago-Rivas M. , Velicer W.F. , Redding C.A. , Prochaska J.O. , Paiva A.L. .
Source: Psychology, Health & Medicine, 2012; 17(3), p. 311-22.
PMID: 22175661
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Psychometric Assessment Of The Temptations To Try Alcohol Scale
Authors: Harrington,M. , Babbin,S. , Redding,C. , Burditt,C. , Paiva,A. , Meier,K. , Oatley,K. , McGee,H. , Velicer,W. .
Source: Addictive Behaviors, 2011 Apr; 36(4), p. 431-3.
PMID: 21227594
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Baseline Stage, Severity, And Effort Effects Differentiate Stable Smokers From Maintainers And Relapsers
Authors: Redding C.A. , Prochaska J.O. , Paiva A. , Rossi J.S. , Velicer W. , Blissmer B.J. , Greene G.W. , Robbins M.L. , Sun X. .
Source: Substance Use & Misuse, 2011; 46(13), p. 1664-74.
PMID: 21449711
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Maintaining Engagement In Long-term Interventions With Relational Agents
Authors: Bickmore T. , Schulman D. , Yin L. .
Source: Applied Artificial Intelligence : Aai, 2010-07-01 00:00:00.0; 24(6), p. 648-666.
PMID: 21318052
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Common Factors Predicting Long-term Changes In Multiple Health Behaviors
Authors: Blissmer B. , Prochaska J.O. , Velicer W.F. , Redding C.A. , Rossi J.S. , Greene G.W. , Paiva A. , Robbins M. .
Source: Journal Of Health Psychology, 2010 Mar; 15(2), p. 205-14.
PMID: 20207664
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The benefits and challenges of multiple health behavior change in research and in practice.
Authors: Prochaska J.J. , Nigg C.R. , Spring B. , Velicer W.F. , Prochaska J.O. .
Source: Preventive Medicine, 2010 Jan-Feb; 50(1-2), p. 26-9.
PMID: 19948184
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Testing The Predictive Power Of The Transtheoretical Model Of Behavior Change Applied To Dietary Fat Intake
Authors: Wright,J.A. , Velicer,W.F. , Prochaska,J.O. .
Source: Health Education Research, 2009 Apr; 24(2), p. 224-36.
PMID: 18400785
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Validity Of Stage Assessment In The Adoption And Maintenance Of Physical Activity And Fruit And Vegetable Consumption
Authors: Lippke,S. , Ziegelmann,J.P. , Schwarzer,R. , Velicer,W.F. .
Source: Health Psychology : Official Journal Of The Division Of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2009 Mar; 28(2), p. 183-93.
PMID: 19290710
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