Personalized ICT Guidance Service for Optimizing Healthy Lifestyle Behaviour through Awareness, Motivation and Engagement (PEGASO)

Abstract

Background: Obesity in teenagers is a rapidly increasing global public health crisis. Using serious gaming, multi-media eDiary, and embedded kinematic sensors the PEGASO project (EU FP7 funded) delivers a personalised behaviour change intervention, informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel Framework (BCW), targeting dietary and physical activity behaviours in European teenagers (13-16 yrs). Methods & Expected Results: Participants (n= 400) will be recruited from sites in Italy, Spain & UK. Adapted versions of a quantitative self-assessment questionnaire (COM-B-Q) embedded within the system will assess teenagers’ awareness of their own health behaviours. Qualitative (eDiary) and quantitative data (kinematic sensors) will be analysed and triangulated for measures of overall behaviour change. The study is in Pre-Pilot Phase to evaluate usability and acceptance of the system, assess impact, long-term use of the technology, and suitability of outcome measures reflecting COM-B domains. Discussion: Results will refine the PEGASO system to facilitate wider roll-out across European partner countries (Pilot Phase), and explore validity of the BCW to design interventions for dietary & exercise behaviour change in European teenagers, embedded within an ICT system workflow.