GB2504649A

GB2504649A - Feedback messages

Info

Publication number: GB2504649A
Application number: GB1203160.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Calvin Sim
Original assignee: Toumaz UK Ltd
Current assignee: Toumaz UK Ltd
Priority date: 2012-02-23
Filing date: 2012-02-23
Publication date: 2014-02-12
Also published as: GB201203160D0

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus and method for providing feedback to a user regarding a target. The apparatus is configured to receive user data, analyse the received user data against targets for that user and transmit feedback messages to the user based upon the results of the analysis of the user data. The feedback messages may be associated with a weighting which is adjusted with reference to the results of the analysis in order that messages which do not motivate a user to reach the target are sent less often than those messages which do. The application has particular use in healthcare systems, where the user data may be heart rate, blood pressure, exercise etc.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK

Technical field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for providing feedback to a user and is of particular use in healthcare systems. The feedback provided is preferably optimised for the user.

Background

The occurrence of chronic health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, is becoming more common. These diseases require management in order to minimise the effects of the disease on the affected person. For example, in the case of type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes can help prevent or delay development of the disease and therefore it is advantageous for people to develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

For some people who develop chronic health conditions it is difficult to sustain the level of engagement required to perform the prescribed lifestyle changes! for example due to boredom, fatigue, lack of motivation or discipline.

For this reason follow-up sessions with counsellors are often provided to help address these lapses in compliance with the lifestyle required. During these follow-up sessions a range of methods are available to a counsellor to address lapses in compliance.

These may include, education, positive encouragement, highlighting the consequences or providing incentives such as a gym pass or an exercise bike.

These follow-up sessions carry a considerable cost and require attendance of the user to maximise the compliance of the user. This means that it is not always possible to maximise the chances of the user to prevent or slow down the development of the disease. Thus, it is desirable to provide a system which aids the change in lifestyle required.

Due to the importance of lifestyle changes monitors have been developed to monitor a user's lifestyle, for example by monitoring their daily exercise regime or diet. These systems use a body-worn device to provide physical energy expenditure information to the user.

However, the user is still required to monitor and track their own compliance with the lifestyle changes. Thus, what is required is a system that maximises the compliance of the user with any required lifestyle changes.

Summary

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus comprising a memory to store, for a user, a target; an input to receive user data; a processor to analyse the user data to determine if the target is met; and an output to transmit a feedback message to the user. This allows the feedback to the user to be tailored to the data stored for the user in the apparatus.

The apparatus may further include selection means configured to select the feedback message on the basis of the analysis. This allows the feedback message to be more specifically selected based upon the user's achievements. For example, if the user achieves the target one type of feedback message may be selected, if the user does not achieve the target then another type of feedback message may be selected.

The apparatus may include a memory to store a set of feedback messages, at least one feedback message being associated with a weighting for the user; the weighting being proportional to the probability of the message being selected by the selection means. In this way the probability that a message is sent can be based upon user specific parameters, such as the user's personality type or previous success of the message in achieving compliance in order to maximise the likelihood of the user achieving compliance.

The apparatus may also include a weightings processor configured to alter the weighting associated with the feedback message based upon the analysis of the processor. In this way the probability that the message is resent to the user is dependent upon the success of the message in achieving compliance by the user.

The memory of the apparatus may also store, for a user, a user profile including a parameters and the selection means is configured to select one or more feedback message on the basis of the parameter.

Optionally, at least one feedback message may be associated with a parameter and the selection means is configured to select the feedback message only if the user profile includes the parameter. Thus, feedback messages, such as feedback messages including a particular incentive, can be targeted towards a particular user group.

The input and the output of the apparatus may receive data and transmit the feedback message over a wireless connection.

Optionally, the feedback message may be an SMS text, e-mail, instant message or human comprehensible electronic message. Alternatively, the feedback message may be a barcode, QR code to a webpage, or other forms of standard widely accepted machine readable electronic message that may be subsequently decoded into human comprehensible form.

The feedback message may include one or more of an incentive, encouraging text or text highlighting the consequences of not meeting the target.

The user data may be one or more of heart rate, head rate variability, blood pressure, non-specific motion, classifiable physical activity rate and breathing rate.

The target may be a range of head rates or a range of blood pressure or a range of duration of physical activity or a range of physical activity energy expenditure or intensity derived from heart rate and/or activity measures.

The apparatus may also include a third party output configured to transmit data to a third party. The third party may be any interested party such as a healthcare provider or an insurance provider.

Optionally, the apparatus may generate a report based on the analysis and transmit the report to the third party. The apparatus may also include a third party input configured to receive, from a third party device, data and to modify the feedback message in response to the data.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method comprising the steps of storing, for a user, a target; receiving user data from a user; analysing the user data to determine if the target is met; and transmitting a feedback message to the user.

The method may include the step of selecting the feedback message on the basis of the analysis.

Optionally the method may include the further steps of: storing a set of feedback messages, at least one feedback message being associated with a weighting for the user; the weighting being proportional to the probability of the message being selected.

The weighting associated with the feedback message may be altered based upon the analysis of the processor.

The method may include the further step of storing, for a user, a user profile including a parameters and the step of selecting one or more feedback message is on the basis of the parameter.

The method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 further comprising the steps of generating a report based on the analysis and transmit the report to the third party.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing an apparatus to perform the method of the second aspect of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method performed by the system; Figure 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of optimising messages transmitted to a user device; and Figure 4 illustrates the information exchanged by components of the system.

Detailed description

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 10 for monitoring a user's lifestyle. The system includes a sensor 12 which is worn by the user, a remote server 14, a user device 16 such as a mobile telephone, tablet, computer or other suitable device with appropriate user interfaces for providing information to the user and a third party device 18.

The sensor 12 is configured to collect information from the user and transmit it to the remote server. The sensor 12 may be any suitable type of sensor, for example, it may be a body worn sensor which monitois one or more of: heart rate, breathing late.

Alternatively! it may be a user device 16 configured to receive information, such as details of food the user has eaten, from a user.

The iemote servei 14 includes an input to receive data from the sensor 12 and a processor to analyse the data to determine whether or not it meets certain compliance requirements set for the user within the system 14. For example, the remote server 14 may determine that if a usei's heart iate is maintained over a predetermined thieshold foi a time peiiod of 45 minutes then the user has performed sufficient exercise to comply with their requirements for the day.

The remote server 14 also includes an output for sending feedback messages to the user's user device 16. The user accesses the feedback messages on their user device. The content of the feedback messages may be selected by the remote server with refeience to the results of the processor's analysis.

The third party device 18 may belong to any third party, for example, the user's doctor, health insurer. The third party device 18 includes an input to receive data from the server for one or more people using the system 10. The third party device 18 may transmit data to the remote server 14 to provide input into the compliance requirements in order to optimise the chances of the user meeting the required lifestyle goals.

A method of using the system will now be described with reference to Figure 2.

The method includes the following steps: Si. A new user to the system registers with the system. During registration the system collects information such as a user identity to generate a profile for the user.

S2. From the information provided by the user the system generates a profile for that user. The user profile includes compliance requirements for that user. For example, a compliance requirement may be that the user has to be mobile for at least 45 minutes in a 24 hour period.

The user is also provided with a sensor to be worn on their body. The sensor captures physiological information, such as heart rate and body motion, from the user's body during the day (from 0000hrs to 2359hrs). At any point during the day while it is connectable to the server the sensor transmits the collected information to the system.

S3. The remote server receives the information transmitted by the sensor.

S4. Upon receiving the information the remote server processes the data. For example, the data may be processed to find periods of time for which the user's heart rate has been above a predetermined minimum for at least a certain amount of time.

This is set so that periods of exercise by the user can be identified (as opposed to raised heart rate due to a surprise).

S5. Once the data has been processed the remote server compares the processed data with the set of compliance requirements in the user's profile to determine whether compliance has been achieved. For example, the data may relate to heart rate and the system may determine whether the user had a heart rate over a predetermined threshold for the required number of minutes, for example 45 in the day.

S6. The remote server updates the user profile with the user's compliance with each requirement for that time period. I.e. if the user meets a compliance requirements, i.e. had a heart rate over a predetermined threshold for at least one 45 minute period in the 24 hour period then the server will update the user profile to show that the user was compliant with that requirement for that 24 hour period. If the user was not mobile for at least 45 minutes in the 24 hour period then server will update the user profile to show that the user was not compliant with that requirement for that 24 hour period. In this way the system can be used to monitor how many days the user is compliant for.

S7. In view of the compliance of the user the server selects and transmits one or more feedback message to be sent to the user. For example, if the user is compliant with all of the requirements in their user profile then the server may select one type of message to send to the user. Alternatively, if the user is only partially compliant, i.e. does not fulfil all the requirements of the system, the server may select a different message. This feedback message may take, for example, the foim of a text message to the user's mobile telephone, or could be in the form of an endorsement, or a reward voucher in the event of compliance or could be in the form of an encouragement, or warning or even a notice of penalty in the event of poor non-compliance. In the event of repeated non-compliance! the message may be in the form of a human intervention to verify if there are issues with the system.

Once the feedback message has been sent to the user device the seiver will wait until it receives further information from the sensor at which point the method begins again from S3.

The level of compliance may be graded on a scale that is calibrated from non-compliance to full compliance. The remote server may offer means for human intervention to directly select oi influence the feedback messages fiom a set of messages deemed appropriate for a particular level of compliance that is stored on the server.

Alteinatively, the server may be configuied to over several itelations of the method, adaptively optimise the messages sent to a user automatically without requiring human intervention. For example, as described above, the content of the feedback message may depend on the compliance of the usel, i.e. one type of message is sent if the user is fully compliant, another type of message is sent if the user is not compliant and yet another type of message is sent if the user is only partially compliant.

Additionally, diffeient messages may have diffeient levels of success foi different users. For example, whilst one user may react more positively to a message highlighting the consequences of non-compliance another user may achieve better compliance when offered incentives to meet the requilements.

In order to achieve optimisation each message may be attributed a weighting between 0 and 9 for each usei where messages having a weighting of 0 are the least likely to be sent to the user and messages having a weighting of 9 are the most likely to be sent to the user. A method of selecting the messages to be sent is illustrated in Figure 3 which shows the following steps: S16. is equivalent to S.6 where the user is sent a feedback message by the system following data received by the system.

S17. to 19. The server receives and processes user data from the sensor as described with reference to S.3 to S.5 above S20. The server adjusts the weight associated with the feedback message sent in S.16. The weighting is increased by 1 where full compliance is achieved, decreased by 1 where no compliance is achieved and kept constant if there is partial compliance.

Although the optimisation of messages has been described using a weighting between 0 and 9 it will be understood that any suitable weighting system may be used.

Additionally, the weighting of a feedback message may be adjusted in any suitable manner. For example, the score may be increased by an amount proportional to the performance achieved by the message up to a maximum amount and conversely decreased by an amount proportional to the performance achieved by the message down to a minimum amount.

In order to optimise the selection of messages to be sent to a user it is preferable that the user profile includes parameters relating to the user. These parameters include age, gender, ethnicity etc... Additionally, during the process of registering with the system a user may undergo a personality test in order to determine personality traits of the user. The user may then be classified according to their personality types.

In this system the system will store messages in association with personality types. A user may be more likely to, or only, receive feedback messages associated with their personality type. This means that the messages sent to the user are designed to elicit the maximum motivational effect on the user.

Optionally, the feedback messages may be allocated the same weighting when the user registers with the system, e.g. they may all be provided with a weighting of 5.

Alternatively, the weighting for the feedback messages may be selected according to the personality type of the user or parameters associated with the user.

The system may also include a device of one or more interested third parties such as healthcare providers, government health agencies, insurers, employers etc. A user profile may be linked to one or more of these third parties.

The system is configured to generate! at predetermined times, a compliance report for a third party associated with a user profile. The compliance report may be for one user -for example, providing information on the number of compliant days during a month.

Alternatively, the system may generate a compliance report based on one or more groups of users.

The third parties may also allow messages including incentives to be sent to a user.

Incentives may be, but are not limited to, rebates, discounts, membership points etc....

The incentives sent to the user may be dependent upon the compliance of a user. For example, if the user complies for more than a predetermined number of days in a month then the user may receive an incentive message. Optionally, the incentive message may also be associated with a score as described above.

The third party device may also be able to input data into the remote server, for example, to alter the compliance requirements associated with a user. For example, the third party device interface may present to a third party controls for configuring the type of feedback responses for each user or user group. This allows a person at the third party device to modify different parameters that define the type, nature and characteristic of the responses that will be sent to the user. For example, the person at the third party may modify the weighting of one or more feedback messages or the frequency with which one or more feedback messages are transmitted.

An example of data exchanged between the user, the server and the third party device is illustrated in Figure 4.

As will be understood by the skilled person the invention may be implemented in a number ot alternative ways. For example, the sensor may transmit the data to the user device and the user device may act as a relay passing the data to the system.

Optionally, the user device may store data received from the sensor and send the collated data to the system at a predetermined time period. Additionally, user data may be any suitable physiological data including, but not limited to, heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure.

User data may also be input manually into a user device or third party device for transmission to the system. For example, a healthcare professional may enter blood pressure into a third party device and transmit the user's blood pressure to the system or a user may enter their food intake into a user device, such as a mobile telephone, and the user device transmits the user data to the server.

Additionally, the remote server may be implemented on any suitable apparatus or the functions of the remote server may be distributed amongst a plurality of apparatus.

Feedback messages may be any suitable message designed to encourage compliance by a user. In addition to messages including incentives they may also be messages including encouraging phrases or messages highlighting the consequences of non-compliance.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Apparatus comprising: a memory to store, for a user, a target; an input to receive user data; a processor to analyse the user data to determine if the target is met; and an output to transmit a feedback message to the user.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising selection means configured to select the feedback message on the basis of the analysis.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a memory to store a set of feedback messages, at least one feedback message being associated with a weighting for the user; the weighting being proportional to the probability of the message being selected by the selection means.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a weightings processor configured to alter the weighting associated with the feedback message based upon the analysis of the processor.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the memory also stores, for a user, a user profile including a parameters and the selection means is configured to select one or more feedback message on the basis of the parameter.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one feedback message is associated with a parameter and the selection means is configured to select the feedback message only if the user profile includes the parameter.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the input and the output are configured to receive data and transmit the feedback message over a wireless connection.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the feedback message is an SMS text, e-mail, instant message or human comprehensible electronic message.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the feedback message is a barcode, OR code to a webpage, or other forms of standard widely accepted machine readable electronic message that may be subsequently decoded into human comprehensible form.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the feedback message includes one or more of an incentive, encouraging text or text highlighting the consequences of not meeting the target.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the user data is one or more of heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, non-specific motion, classifiable physical activity rate and breathing rate.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the target comprises a range of heart rates or a range of blood pressure or a range of duration of physical activity or a range of physical activity energy expenditure or intensity derived from heart rate and/or activity measures.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a third party output configured to transmit data to a third party.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further configured to generate a report based on the analysis and transmit the report to the third party.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14 further comprising a third party input configured to receive, from a third party device, data and to modify the feedback message in response to the data.
16. A method comprising the steps of: storing, for a user, a target; receiving user data from a user; analysing the user data to determine if the target is met; and transmifting a feedback message to the user.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising the step of selecting the feedback message on the basis of the analysis.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising storing a set of feedback messages, at least one feedback message being associated with a weighting for the user; the weighting being proportional to the probability of the message being selected.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising the step of altering the weighting associated with the feedback message based upon the analysis of the processor.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising storing, for a user, a user profile including a parameters and the step of selecting one or more feedback message is on the basis of the parameter.
21. The method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 further comprising the steps of generating a report based on the analysis and transmit the report to the third party.
22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing an apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 16 to 20.