Evidence Regarding Automatic Processing Computerized Tasks Designed For Health Interventions in Real-World Settings Among Adults: Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract

Background Dual process theories propose that the brain uses 2 types of thinking to influence behavior: automatic processing and reflective processing. Automatic processing is fast, immediate, nonconscious, and unintentional, whereas reflective processing focuses on logical reasoning, and it is slow, step by step, and intentional. Most digital psychological health interventions tend to solely target the reflective system, although the automatic processing pathway can have strong influences on behavior. Laboratory-based research has highlighted that automatic processing tasks can create behavior change; however, there are substantial gaps in the field on the design, implementation, and delivery of automatic processing tasks in real-world settings. It is important to identify and summarize the existing literature in this area to inform the translation of laboratory-based research to real-world settings. Objective This scoping review aims to explore the effectiveness of automatic training tasks, types of training tasks commonly used, mode of delivery, and impacts of gamification on automatic processing tasks designed for digital psychological health interventions in real-world settings among adults. Methods The scoping review methodology proposed by Arskey and O’Malley and Colquhoun was applied. A scoping review was chosen because of the novelty of the digital automatic processing field and to encompass a broad review of the existing evidence base. Electronic databases and gray literature databases were searched with the search terms “automatic processing,” “computerised technologies,” “health intervention,” “real-world,” and “adults” and synonyms of these words. The search was up to date until September 2018. A manual search was also completed on the reference lists of the included studies. Results A total of 14 studies met all inclusion criteria. There was a wide variety of health conditions targeted, with the most prevalent being alcohol abuse followed by social anxiety. Attention bias modification tasks were the most prevalent type of automatic processing task, and the majority of tasks were most commonly delivered over the web via a personal computer. Of the 14 studies included in the review, 8 demonstrated significant changes to automatic processes and 4 demonstrated significant behavioral changes as a result of changed automatic processes. Conclusions This is the first review to synthesize the evidence on automatic processing tasks in real-world settings targeting adults. This review has highlighted promising, albeit limited, research demonstrating that automatic processing tasks may be used effectively in a real-world setting to influence behavior change.

Improving Physical Activity Using a Single Personalized Consequence-Based Approach-Avoidance Training: Effects on Self-Reported Behaviors, Attitudes, and Choices

“…Any significant difference in the leisure time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA over the week following the intervention was observed between the three conditions. These nonsignificant effects add to the inconsistency that characterizes the cognitive bias modification literature (Jayasinghe et al, 2020) and contrast with the promising evidence that was first provided by consequence-based approach-avoidance training in the food domain (Van Dessel et al, 2018). Altogether, these non-significant effects of interventions targeting automatic approach-avoidance tendencies-be they anchored within an associative (i.e., approachavoidance training without consequences) or an inferential (i.e., approach-avoidance training with consequences) perspective-can be accounted by at least three explanations.…”

“…However, the small sample size of this study (N = 40) can potentially account for this non-significant result. Altogether, as for other health behaviors (e.g., smoking, drinking; Jayasinghe et al, 2020), the effectiveness of interventions targeting automatic approach-avoidance tendencies toward PA remains to be more strongly established.…”

Psicologia em Diferentes Contextos : Saúde Mental e Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável

“…Sobre o uso de tecnologias digitais na promoção, proteção e recuperação da saúde mental, os estudos encontrados estão voltados para o desenvolvimento de habilidades socioemocionais -como regulação emocional (Bettis; Burke; Nesi, 2022; Jadhakhan; Blake; Hett, 2022) e resolução de problemas (Doukani; Van Dalen; Valev, 2021) -e prevenção/tratamento de transtornos mentais comuns, como: transtornos ansiosos (Firth; Torous; Carney, 2018; Jayasinghe; Short; Braunack-Mayer, 2020), transtornos depressivos (Deady; Glozier; Calvo, 2022) e transtornos de abuso de substâncias (Jayasinghe;Short;Braunack-Mayer, 2020). A entrega das intervenções é feita, majoritariamente, por meio de aplicativos de smartphones (Firth;Torous;Carney, 2018;Doukani;Van Dalen;Valev, 2021;Deady;Glozier;Calvo, 2022), utilizan-92 do técnicas da abordagem cognitivo-comportamental -como ativação comportamental e mindfulness (Deady; Glozier; Calvo, 2022) -e a tecnologia de realidade virtual (Firth;Torous;Carney, 2018).…”

“…Todavia, existem lacunas nos campos do design, da implementação e da entrega destas soluções digitais (Jayasinghe;Short;Braunack-Mayer, 2020). Ainda são poucos os estudos que corroboram a eficácia e o custo-benefício das aplicações digitais para promoção, proteção e recuperação da saúde mental (Rojas;Martínez, 2019).…”

Measuring psychological constructs in computer-tailored interventions: novel possibilities to reduce participant burden and increase engagement

“…Each game is linked to a standard psychological task and its associated cognitive function (e.g., response inhibition) (Zhang & Chignell, 2020). In a similar vein, games have also been used to deliver cognitive bias modification training and assessment tasks online, with several already evaluated in the behaviour change field (Jayasinghe et al, 2020) and some commercial products widely available via app stores (Zhang et al, 2018).…”