Optimizing Testimonials for Behavior Change in a Digital Intervention for Binge Eating: Human-Centered Design Study
Abstract
Results indicated that intervention users were interested in testimonials. While participants preferred sociodemographically tailored testimonials, they said different characteristics mattered to them, indicating that interventions should assess users' most pertinent identities and tailor testimonials accordingly. Likewise, users' divided preferences for testimonial messaging (ie, "big picture" vs "how-to") suggest that optimal messaging may differ by user. To improve the credibility of testimonials, which some participants distrusted, interventions could invite current users to submit testimonials for future integration in the intervention. Aligned with nudge theory, our findings indicate testimonials could be used as "nudges" within interventions-a ripe area for further inquiry-though future work should test if delivering a testimonial only with the nudged choice improves its uptake. Further research is needed to validate these design ideas in practice, including evaluating their impact on behavior change toward improving ED behaviors.
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