U.S. patent application number 11/614302 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for on-line health education and feedback system using motivational driver profile coding and automated content fulfillment.
Invention is credited to Stephen J. Brown.
Application Number | 20070111176 11/614302 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25214637 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070111176 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Stephen J. |
May 17, 2007 |
ON-LINE HEALTH EDUCATION AND FEEDBACK SYSTEM USING MOTIVATIONAL
DRIVER PROFILE CODING AND AUTOMATED CONTENT FULFILLMENT
Abstract
An automated system and method provides customized health
education to an individual at a remote terminal to induce a
modification in a health-related behavior of the individual. The
automated system includes a questionnaire generator for questioning
the individual to determine his or her motivational drivers and
comprehension capacity. A profile generator receives answers
entered by the individual from the remote terminal and generates a
motivational driver profile and a comprehension capacity profile of
the individual. A translator receives clinical data relating to a
current health condition of the individual and translates the
clinical data, the motivational driver profile, and the
comprehension capacity profile into a profile code. An educational
fulfillment bank matches the profile code to matching educational
materials and transfers the matched educational materials to the
remote terminal. An evaluation program evaluates educational
responses of the individual and provides profile updates for
targeting subsequent educational material to the individual based
on the educational responses.
Inventors: |
Brown; Stephen J.;
(Woodside, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEALTH HERO NETWORK, INC.
2000 SEAPORT BLVD.
SUITE 400
REDWOOD CITY
CA
94063
US
|
Family ID: |
25214637 |
Appl. No.: |
11/614302 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11301331 |
Dec 13, 2005 |
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11614302 |
Dec 21, 2006 |
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09540482 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
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11301331 |
Dec 13, 2005 |
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09394219 |
Sep 13, 1999 |
6375469 |
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09540482 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
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08814293 |
Mar 10, 1997 |
5951300 |
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09394219 |
Sep 13, 1999 |
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08669613 |
Jun 24, 1996 |
5879163 |
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08814293 |
Mar 10, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
434/262 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0275 20130101;
G06Q 10/10 20130101; G09B 5/00 20130101; H04L 51/14 20130101; G16H
10/60 20180101; H04L 67/289 20130101; H04L 67/2895 20130101; H04L
67/2804 20130101; H04L 67/306 20130101; G09B 7/04 20130101; H04L
67/2819 20130101; H04L 51/063 20130101; H04L 67/02 20130101; G09B
23/28 20130101; H04L 67/2828 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/262 |
International
Class: |
G09B 23/28 20060101
G09B023/28 |
Claims
1. A system for providing automatically customized content, said
system comprising: a server configured to provide a first content
from a first source to be sent over at least one communication
network, wherein said first content is selected based on a profile
code; a translator configured to generate said profile code based
on a profile; a profile generator configured to generate said
profile based on information about an individual; and a terminal
configured to receive said first content from said server.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is
configured to provide customized content to said individual based
on said profile.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is
further configured to display said first content to said
individual.
4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second
source configured to present a second content to be sent over the
at least one communication network in response to a request from
said server.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server, said
translator and said profile generator are part of a single computer
system.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is
remotely situated from said server, said translator and said
profile generator.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first content
comprises educational content.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said educational
content comprises health-related information.
9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a
questionnaire generator configured to generate an interview form,
wherein said information about said individual comprises responses
to said interview form from said individual.
10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a
questionnaire generator configured to generate an interview form,
wherein said information about said individual is collected based
upon responses to said interview form from said individual.
11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information about
said individual is collected from one or more sources selected from
the group consisting of (i) registration information, (ii)
responses from said individual, (iii) medical records, (iv)
healthcare providers, (v) medical claims and (vi) monitoring
devices.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server is further
configured to customize said first content for said individual
based on said profile code.
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said profile generator
is further configured to update said profile based on one or more
types of information selected from the group consisting of (i)
information gathered from evaluation of individual responses and
(ii) information gathered from an interview form.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said translator is
further configured to update said profile code based on information
gathered by a monitoring device.
15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
communication network comprises a computer network.
16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
communication network comprises a telephone network.
17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said translator is
further configured to generate said profile code taking into
account one or more types of information selected from the group
consisting of clinical data, medical claims data and medical
records data.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said clinical data
comprises measurements from a monitoring device.
19. A system for preparing user profiles, said system comprising: a
profile generator configured to generate a profile of an individual
based on information about said individual; and a computer readable
storage medium containing a profile database configured to store
said profile of said individual.
20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said profile of said
individual comprises one or more types of profiles selected from
the group consisting of a motivational driver profile, a
comprehension capacity profile, and a media selection profile.
21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said profile database
is further configured to store a registration record of said
individual.
22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said registration
record comprises one or more types of information selected from the
group consisting of name, language, and health condition.
23. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a
questionnaire generator configured to generate an interview form
comprising a plurality of questions related to said information
about said individual.
24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of
questions comprise one or more categories selected from the group
consisting of (i) questions relating to a current health condition
of said individual, (ii) questions relating to determining a
motivation driver of said individual, (iii) questions relating to
determining a comprehension capacity of said individual and (iv)
questions related to determining a media preference of said
individual.
25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of
questions comprise one or more subsets of questions selected from
the group consisting of (i) questions related to determining a
current disease of the individual, (ii) questions related to
determining symptoms of the individual, (iii) questions related to
determining a value placed by the individual on various motivating
factors, (iv) questions related to determining a value placed on
longevity, (v) questions related to determining a value placed on
quality of life, (vii) questions related to determining a value
placed on family life, (viii) questions related to determining a
value placed on social acceptability, (ix) questions related to
determining a value placed on social responsibility, (x) questions
related to determining an age of the individual, (xi) questions
related to determining language skills of the individual, (xii)
questions related to determining reading habits of the individual,
(xiii) questions related to determining an educational background
of the individual.
26. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a
translator configured to translate said profile received from said
profile generator and clinical data into a profile code.
27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said clinical data is
received through at least one communication network.
28. The system according to claim 26, wherein said clinical data
comprises one or more types of data selected from the group
consisting of medical claim data, electronic medical records and
device measurements.
29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said clinical data
comprises data received from one or more sources of data selected
from the group consisting of a medical claims database, a medical
records database and a monitoring device.
30. A system for updating use profiles, said system comprising: a
profile generator configured to (i) generate one or more profiles
of an individual based on information about said individual and
(ii) update said one or more profiles based on said information
about said individual; a computer readable storage medium
containing a profile database configured to store said one or more
profiles of said individual.
31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said profile
generator is further configured to generate a confirmation form
comprising a summary of each of said one or more profiles
generated.
32. The system according to claim 30, wherein said profile
generator is further configured to confirm each of said one or more
profiles generated based on response to said confirmation form
received from said individual.
33. The system according to claim 30, further comprising a
translator configured to update said one or more profiles based on
clinical data.
34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said clinical data is
received through at least one communication network.
35. The system according to claim 34, wherein said clinical data
comprises one or more types of data selected from the group
consisting of medical claim data, electronic medical records and
device measurements.
36. The system according to claim 34, wherein said clinical data
comprises data received from one or more sources of data selected
from the group consisting of a medical claims database, a medical
records database and a monitoring device.
37. The system according to claim 30, further comprising a
performance evaluator configured to evaluate responses from said
individual.
38. The system according to claim 37, wherein said performance
evaluator is further configured to generate profile updates based
on the evaluation of said responses from said individual.
39. The system according to claim 38, wherein said profile
generator is further configured to adjust said one or more profiles
based on said profile updates received from said performance
evaluator.
40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said responses from
said individual are generated in response to customized content
presented to said individual based on said one or more profiles of
said individual.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This invention is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/301,331,
filed on Dec. 13, 2005, which is continuation of Ser. No.
09/540,482, filed on Mar. 31, 2000, now abandoned, which is a
continuation of Ser. No. 09/394,219, filed on Sep. 13, 1999, now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,469, which is a continuation of Ser. No.
08/814,293, filed on Mar. 10, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,300,
which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/669,613, filed on Jun.
24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,163, which are each incorporated
by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of on-line health
education, and in particular to an automated system and method for
providing customized health education to induce a modification in a
health related behavior of an individual.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The goal of most health education programs is to motivate
individuals to modify their health-related behaviors to improve
their current state of health or to reduce their health-related
risks. In its simplest form, a health education program exposes an
individual to information or instructions relating to a selected
health behavior. The individual then may modify his or her behavior
to accommodate the information and adhere to the instructions. The
degree to which the individual modifies his or her health-related
behavior and adheres to the instructions defines the individual's
compliance to the health education program.
[0004] In a health educational program in which adherence to the
instructions would clearly benefit the health of the individual,
one would expect a high degree of compliance. Unfortunately, this
is rarely the case. As an example, health-care providers,
health-care payers, and government agencies have launched massive
media campaigns to expose nearly the entire U.S. population to
health information regarding the damaging effects of smoking
cigarettes. The instructions to quit smoking and the health
benefits obtainable by quitting are explicit. Nevertheless, a
disappointingly small percentage of the target population responds
to the anti-smoking campaign by attempting to quit smoking.
[0005] One such anti-smoking campaign involves mailing a multiple
page pamphlet to every household within a geographical region. The
pamphlet is written in English and gives a detailed description of
five medical conditions resulting from smoking: Emphysema,
Pulmonary Carcinoma, Atherosclerosis, and Cerebral Hemorrhage. The
pamphlet also informs the reader that by quitting smoking, he or
she will experience a sixty percent reduction in the risk of
contracting any of these ailments, a reduction that translates into
a significant gain in life expectancy.
[0006] Although this mass mailing method of health education sets
forth explicit instructions and states compelling health reasons to
follow the instructions, it has several disadvantages that prevent
it from succeeding. First, the method fails to consider the
comprehension capacity of the pamphlet's audience. For example,
because the pamphlet is written in English, it may exclude roughly
twenty-five percent of the population in the selected geographical
region who read only Spanish.
[0007] Further, the pamphlet describes the consequences of smoking
using medical terminology like Emphysema, Pulmonary Carcinoma, etc.
Twenty-five percent of the population in the selected region
without a high school degree might prefer plain language, such as
Stiff Lungs, Lung Cancer, Hardened Blood Vessels, and Stroke. The
pamphlet quickly loses the attention of these recipients as well.
As a result of its failure to consider the comprehension capacity
of each individual recipient, the mass mailing method loses roughly
half of the target population it intends to educate due to
standardized language, standardized delivery, and standardized
media.
[0008] The mass mailing method of health education has a second
disadvantage in failing to consider the evaluation and judgment of
each individual receiving a pamphlet. Upon receiving the pamphlet,
each individual will immediately decide if the topic discussed is
relevant to his or her situation. Because the pamphlet is mailed to
all households within a region, money is wasted by mailing the
pamphlet to disinterested non-smokers. Additionally, the opening
and reading of the anti-smoking pamphlet is tedious for the
non-smokers. As a result, they might not even bother to open and
read a subsequent pamphlet addressing a health topic relevant to
their health condition.
[0009] A third disadvantage of the mass mailing method is its
inability to target specific motivating factors for behavior
modification to each individual receiving a pamphlet. For example,
the pamphlet addresses longevity of life associated with quitting
smoking, but many individuals receiving the pamphlet may value the
present far more than the future. Because the pamphlet does not
address present day issues, such as coughing at night while trying
to sleep or spending fifteen hundred dollars per year on
cigarettes, the individual living for the present will not be
motivated to quit smoking. Each individual has his or her own
motivational drivers for inducing behavior modification that cannot
be specifically targeted in a standardized pamphlet.
[0010] A fourth disadvantage of the mass mailing method of health
education is its inability to provide feedback and continued
motivation to each individual recipient. Even if one individual did
actually quit smoking as a result of reading the pamphlet, the
individual would receive no specialized follow-up education for
coping with nicotine withdrawal, weight gain, or other consequences
of this behavioral change. Of course, mass mailing is just one
example of a standardized broadcast media technique. The same
disadvantages as those described for mass mailings hold for other
broadcast media methods of health education.
[0011] A completely customized educational solution for modifying
health related behaviors can be accomplished using a private or
semi-private educational environment. Within such an environment,
it is possible to psychologically analyze each individual to
identify his or her specific motivational drivers for making
health-related decisions or modifying health-related behavior. The
disadvantage of this private method is that it is too expensive and
time consuming for a large percentage of the population to afford.
As a result, it excludes this large percentage of the population
who could significantly benefit from customized health
education.
[0012] Due to the disadvantages of private analysis and education,
attempts have been made to implement computer-automated health
education systems that are available to the general public. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,122 issued to Fuller et al. on Aug. 7,
1984 discloses a health potential summary and incentive system. The
system reads and scores the answers to a printed questionnaire
completed by an individual. The questionnaire includes questions to
determine the individual's demographics, alcohol and tobacco usage,
stress factors, exercise routines, and daily nutrition. Based on
the individual's scored answers, the system prints a summary
analysis of the individual's health condition in several health
categories, as well as recommendations for improvement in each
category.
[0013] A similar system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,819
issued to Dewey et al. on Jan. 28, 1992. Dewey describes an expert
data collection, analysis, and response system for reading and
scoring a questionnaire form completed by an individual. The
questionnaire includes questions to determine the individual's
current health condition, such as his or her blood pressure, as
well as the individual's alcohol and tobacco usage. The system
prints for the individual specific recommendations based on the
scored answers.
[0014] The systems described by Fuller and Dewey have many of the
same disadvantages as those described for the mass mailing method
of health education and behavior modification. First, they only
determine from a questionnaire what an individual's health-related
behavior is. They fail to determine the specific motivational
drivers each individual may have for changing the health related
behavior. As a result, they give each individual very little
personal incentive to make a significant behavioral change. Second,
these systems described by Dewey and Fuller do not customize their
printed summaries to conform to a specific comprehension capacity
or media selection of the individual user. Consequently, they may
exclude portions of the population who cannot fully understand or
appreciate the printed recommendations. Third, these systems have
no mechanism for continued feedback and support, so that even if an
individual did temporarily comply with the recommendations, the
individual would soon lose motivation to continue with his or her
change in behavior.
[0015] A system that attempts to overcome the problems associated
with lack of continued motivational support is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,207,580 issued to Strecher on May 4, 1993. Strecher
discloses a tailored health-related behavioral change and adherence
system. In this system, an individual's answers to health-related
questions are used to select instructional and motivational
statements for changing a behavior of the individual. The
instructional and motivational statements are then placed on dated
pages, such as those of a calendar, corresponding to dates before,
during, and after a selected change date for the health-related
behavior.
[0016] Although this calendar system described by Strecher does
provide continued support to an individual attempting to modify his
or her behavior, the continued support is not based on any
performance feedback from the individual. Because the calendar is
printed in advance on the basis of one questionnaire, the system
has no mechanism for adjusting the educational and motivational
material supplied to the individual in dependence upon new data
relating to the individual's mental and physical health condition.
Further, the Strecher system has no mechanism for tailoring the
educational and motivational instructions to the specific
comprehension capacity and preferred media of the individual
user.
[0017] Another system for providing positive motivational
statements to an individual to effect a behavioral change is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,258 issued to Bro on Dec. 27,
1994. Bro describes an automated and interactive system that allows
a doctor or trainer to produce and send a series of motivational
messages and instructions to a client to motivate or reinforce a
change in a specific behavioral problem.
[0018] The system includes a client database for storing for each
client a name, a calling schedule, and a personal identification
number. The system further includes a client program that contains
for each client motivational messages and questions for the client
to answer. The system optionally includes an electronic weight
scale, olfactory unit, or voice stress analyzer to collect
additional data from the client. The client database and client
program are operated by a computer that at preselected times sends
the motivational messages or questions to the clients dual tone
multifrequency telephone after the client has successfully
transmitted to the computer a valid personal identification
number.
[0019] Although this system disclosed by Bro does provide continued
feedback and motivational support to an individual, it suffers from
two of the same disadvantages described earlier for the Fuller and
Dewey systems. First, Bro does not teach the profiling of an
individual to determine his or her specific motivational drivers
for changing a health-related behavior. Consequently, the
motivational support provided by the system may be ineffective for
many of the individual clients. Secondly, the system has no
mechanism for tailoring the motivational messages to the specific
comprehension capacity and preferred media of an individual client.
The system is only designed to play motivational messages or
collect answers to questions using a telephone.
[0020] Thus, none of the prior automated systems for providing
health education to the general public effectively customize the
educational material to correspond to the specific motivational
drivers of each individual user. Further, none of the prior
automated systems have a mechanism for customizing the educational
material to conform to the comprehension capacity and preferred
media of the individual user. Additionally, several of the systems
lack any feedback mechanism for receiving evaluation data regarding
the individual's performance in modifying his or her behavior and
for providing the individual continued customized support for the
behavioral change.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In view of the above, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an automated system and method for customized
health education that successfully induces a modification in a
health-related behavior of an individual. It is another object of
the invention to provide an automated system and method for health
education that targets educational material to the specific
motivational drivers, comprehension capacity, and preferred media
of the individual. A further object of the invention is to provide
a system and method for health education that allows adjustment of
the educational material based on the individual's performance in
modifying his or her behavior.
[0022] These and other objects and advantages will become more
apparent after consideration of the ensuing description and the
accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The invention presents an automated system and method for
providing customized health education to an individual at a remote
terminal to induce a modification in a health-related behavior of
the individual. The automated system is connected to the remote
terminal via a communication network, such as a public
communication network. The system includes a questionnaire
generator for generating an interview form and for transferring the
interview form through the communication network to the remote
terminal. The interview form contains questions for determining a
motivational driver, a comprehension capacity, and a preferred
media of the individual.
[0024] The system also includes a profile generator for receiving
through the communication network questionnaire answers entered by
the individual from the remote terminal and for generating from the
questionnaire answers a motivational driver profile, a
comprehension capacity profile, and a media selection profile of
the individual. A translator is connected to the profile generator
and the communication network for receiving through the
communication network clinical data relating to a current health
condition of the individual and for translating the clinical data,
the motivational driver profile, the comprehension capacity
profile, and the media selection profile into a profile code of the
individual.
[0025] An educational fulfillment bank is connected to the
translator and the communication network. The educational
fulfillment bank is for storing pieces of education material for
inducing the modification of the health-related behavior, each
piece of educational material having an index code, and for
transferring through the communication network to the remote
terminal at least one piece of educational material having an index
code matching the profile code of the individual.
[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the system also includes an
evaluation program connected to the profile generator for
evaluating educational responses of the individual to the
educational material and for providing profile updates derived from
the educational responses. In this manner, the progress of the
individual attempting to modify his or her behavior is continuously
monitored, and the system adjusts the targeting of the educational
material based on the individual's performance in modifying his or
her behavior.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the main
components of an automated education system and its connections to
an individual at a remote terminal according to the invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
generation of an interview form according to the method of the
invention.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an interview form appearing on
the screen of the remote terminal of FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
confirmation of generated profiles according to the method of the
invention.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
creation of a profile code and the transferring of educational
materials matching the profile code according to the method of the
invention.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
adjustment of individual profiles according to the method of the
invention.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating steps included in the
method of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a continuation of the flow chart of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 1-8. Referring to FIG. 1, an automated education system 10
includes a profile computer 12 having a questionnaire generator 14,
a profile generator 16, a translator 18, and a profile database 20.
Profile computer 12 is connected to an educational fulfillment bank
22 having an educational material database 24. Educational material
database 24 is for storing pieces of educational material for
inducing a modification in a health-related behavior of an
individual. Profile computer 12 and educational fulfillment bank 22
are networked to a modem Ml for connecting profile computer 12 and
educational fulfillment bank 22 to a communication network 26.
[0036] An individual 36 desiring access to system 10 is located at
remote terminal 38. Remote terminal 38 is connected to
communication network 26 through a modem M2 such that remote
terminal 38 accesses system 10 for interactive education sessions
through modem M2 and communication network 26. For simplicity, only
one remote terminal 38 is illustrated in FIG. 1. It is obvious that
many more remote terminals can be connected to communication
network 26 for accessing system 10.
[0037] A monitoring device 40 for monitoring a health condition of
individual 36 is connected to remote terminal 38. Monitoring device
40 is capable of producing measurements of a physical
characteristic of the health condition and of uploading the
measurements to remote terminal 38 for transmission to system 10.
In one possible embodiment, individual 36 is a diabetic and
monitoring device 40 is a blood glucose meter for measuring blood
glucose levels of individual 36. In another embodiment, individual
36 is asthmatic and monitoring device 40 is a peak flow meter for
measuring the individual's peak flow levels. Specific techniques
for connecting a monitoring device to a remote terminal for remote
monitoring of an individual's health condition are well known in
the art.
[0038] Communication network 26 further connects a health-care
provider 28 of individual 36 to profile computer 12. Provider 28
has a medical record database 30 for storing electronic medical
records of individual 36. Medical record database 30 is connected
to communication network 26 through a modem M3 such that profile
computer 12 receives through network 26 the stored electronic
medical records from database 30. Similarly, communication network
26 connects a managed care organization 32 of individual 36 to
profile computer 12. Organization 32 has a medical claims database
34 for storing medical claims data of individual 36. Medical claims
database 34 is connected to communication network 26 through a
modem M4 such that profile computer 12 receives through network 26
the stored medical claims data from database 34.
[0039] Communication network 26 also connects education fulfillment
bank 22 to an external educational source 31 having an additional
educational material database 33. Database 33 is for storing
additional educational materials for inducing a modification in the
behavior of individual 36. Database 33 is connected to
communication network 26 through a modem M5 such that educational
fulfillment bank 22 may transfer additional educational materials
from database 33 to remote terminal 38 through network 26.
[0040] In the preferred embodiment, communication network 26 is a
public communication network, such as the Internet or public
telephone network, and system 10, remote terminal 36, health-care
provider 28, managed care organization 32, and external source 31
connect to the public communication network through the use of
modems, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Of course, many other types of
communication networks and connections to the communication
networks may be employed without departing from the scope of the
invention. Specific techniques for networking computer systems for
on-line interaction are well known in the art.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, questionnaire generator 14 is capable
of generating an interactive interview form 46 and of transferring
interview form 46 through communication network 26 to the screen of
remote terminal 38. In the preferred embodiment, questionnaire
generator 14 also includes a registration program for generating a
registration form 42 and for transferring registration form 42
through communication network 26 to remote terminal 38.
Registration form 42 includes data fields for a name 50, a language
51, and a current health condition 52 of individual 36. Profile
database 20 has storage capability for storing a registration
record 48 that includes name 50, language 51, and current health
condition 52 of individual 36.
[0042] In a typical implementation, questionnaire generator 14
stores hundreds of questions in various languages relating to
possible health conditions of individual 36, such as asthma,
diabetes, nicotine addiction, etc. To narrow the focus of interview
form 46, questionnaire generator 14 further includes an interview
form tailoring algorithm 44 for tailoring interview form 46 in
dependence upon language 51 and current health condition 52 of
individual 36. For example, in FIG. 2, individual 36 has indicated
his language as "ENGLISH" and current health condition as "SMOKER"
so that tailoring algorithm 44 tailors interview form 46 to contain
English language questions pertaining to smoking and smoking
related behaviors of individual 36.
[0043] Interview form 46 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG.
3. Interview form 46 contains a first category of questions 54
relating to the current health condition of individual 36. Category
54 is divided into a first subset of questions 56 for determining
current diseases or symptoms of individual 36 and a second subset
of questions 58 for determining the pattern and history data of the
individual's health condition. In the example of the preferred
embodiment in which individual 36 is a smoker, subset 56 asks about
any current diseases or symptoms smoking has caused in individual
36. Similarly, subset 58 asks for the pattern and history data of
the individual's smoking habit.
[0044] Interview form 46 further includes a second category of
questions 60 for determining a motivational driver of individual
36. Category 60 is divided into six subsets of questions 62, 64,
66, 68, 70, and 72 for determining a value placed by individual 36
on various motivating factors for modifying his or her behavior.
Subset 62 is for determining the value placed by individual 36 on
longevity. For example, if individual 36 is a smoker, subset 62
includes questions to determine if the prospect of living a long
life would provide sufficient motivation to quit smoking.
[0045] Subset 64 is for determining the value placed by individual
36 on the quality of his or her life. In the smoking example,
subset 64 includes questions to determine if an improvement in
smoking symptoms, such as no longer suffering coughing fits, would
provide sufficient motivation to quit smoking. Subset 66 is for
determining the value placed by individual 36 on family life. In
the smoking example, subset 66 includes questions to determine if
an improvement in family life, such as no longer harming relatives
with second hand smoke, would provide sufficient motivation to stop
smoking. Subset 68 is for determining the value placed by
individual 36 on social acceptability. In the smoking example,
subset 68 includes questions to determine if an improvement in
social acceptability, such as no longer offending people with bad
breath, would provide sufficient motivation to quit smoking.
[0046] Subset 70 is for determining the value placed by individual
36 on social responsibility. In the smoking example, subset 70
includes questions to determine if an improvement in social
responsibility, such as not burdening society with the cost of
Emphysema treatment, would positively motivate individual 36 to
quit smoking. Subset 72 is for determining the value placed by
individual 36 on economy. In the smoking example, subset 72
includes questions to determine if the cost savings associated with
no longer purchasing cigarettes would provide sufficient motivation
to quit smoking.
[0047] Interview form 46 also includes a third category of
questions 74 for determining a comprehension capacity of individual
36. Category 74 is divided into four subsets of questions 76, 78,
80, and 82 for determining various comprehension capacity factors.
Subset 76 is for determining an age of individual 76 and subset 78
is for determining language skills of individual 36. Similarly,
subset 80 is for determining reading habits of individual 76 and
subset 82 is for determining an educational background of
individual 36.
[0048] A fourth category of questions 84 is for determining a media
preference of individual 84. Category 84 is divided into three
subsets of questions 86, 88, and 90 for determining if individual
36 prefers pictures, text, or video games, respectively. Of course,
these types of media are just examples of possible media choices.
Interview form 46 and educational fulfillment bank 22 may offer
other media choices in alternative embodiments, such as computer
videos, musical lyrics, or hyper-text links.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 4, profile generator 16 is designed to
generate a motivational driver profile 94, a comprehension capacity
profile 96, and a media selection profile 98 from the questionnaire
answers, as will be explained in the operation section below.
Profile generator 16 further includes a confirmation program for
sending a confirmation form 110 to remote terminal 38. Confirmation
form 110 includes a summary of each generated profile 94, 96, and
98 so that individual 36 may confirm each of the generated
profiles. Profile database 20 is designed to store a profile record
100 of individual 36 that includes his or her name, current health
condition, and confirmed profiles.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 5, translator 18 is designed to translate
clinical data received through network 26 and profiles 94, 96, and
98 received from profile generator 16 into a profile code 114, as
will be explained in the operation section below. Profile code 114
is for targeting specific educational material to individual 36
based on each profile 94, 96, and 98 as well as the individual's
clinical data. In the preferred embodiment, the clinical data
includes medical claims data 102 received from claims database 34,
electronic medical records 104 received from medical record
database 30, and device measurements 106 received from monitoring
device 40.
[0051] Educational fulfillment bank 22 includes a matching program
116 for matching profile code 114 to an index code 118 of a piece
of educational material 120. In a typical implementation,
educational material database 24 stores thousands of pieces of
educational material, each having an index code, and matching
program 116 is a database query program for retrieving from
database 24 each piece of educational material having an index code
that matches profile code 114. Of course, the pieces of educational
material stored in database 24 are index coded such that each
matched piece has an educational content specifically targeted to
individual 36 based on his or her profile code 114. Matching
program 116 is also capable of determining if additional
educational materials appropriate for profile code 114 should be
transferred to terminal 38 from additional educational material
database 33.
[0052] In the example of the preferred embodiment, in which
individual 36 is asked on interview form 46 if he or she prefers
text, pictures, or video games, piece of educational material 120
will be a text document, series of graphical pictures, or
educational video game depending on the media selected by
individual 36. Of course, other types of media selections,
including mixed media selections, are possible in alternative
embodiments.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, piece of educational material 120 is
designed to allow educational interaction between individual 36 and
system 10. For example, if the selected educational material is a
text document or series of pictures, the text or pictures also
include questions or prompts requiring educational responses 124
from individual 36. If the selected educational material is an
educational video game, individual 36 provides educational
responses 124 by playing the educational video game on terminal
38.
[0054] Profile computer 12 includes an educational performance
evaluator 122 for interactively monitoring educational responses
124. Evaluator 122 includes an evaluation algorithm 126 for
evaluating educational responses 124 and for generating profile
updates 128 derived from educational responses 124. Evaluator 122
is connected to profile generator 16 such that generator 16
receives profile updates 128 and adjust profiles 94, 96, and 98 in
accordance with profile updates 128.
[0055] The operation of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in
FIGS. 7-8. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a preferred method by
which system 10 provides customized health education to individual
36 to induce a modification in a health-related behavior of
individual 36. In step 200, the pieces of educational material for
inducing the behavior modification of individual 36 are stored in
educational material database 24. Each piece of educational
material is stored with an index code for designating its
educational content.
[0056] In step 202, individual 36 is registered in profile computer
12. Referring to FIG. 2, individual 36 accesses profile computer 12
through remote terminal 38 and network 26. Next, questionnaire
generator 14 transfers registration form 42 to remote terminal 38.
Individual 36 enters his or her name 50, language 51, and current
health condition 52 into the appropriate fields in registration
form 42 and transfers the completed form 42 to profile computer 12.
Profile computer 12 stores name 50, language 51, and current health
condition 52 as registration record 48 in profile database 20.
[0057] Next, in step 204, interview form tailoring algorithm 44
tailors interview form 46 in dependence upon language 51 and
current health condition 52. For example, in FIG. 2, individual 36
has indicated that he is a smoker who reads English, so that
algorithm 44 tailors interview form 46 to include questions written
in English relating to a smoking habit. After tailoring interview
form 46, questionnaire generator 14 transfers form 46 through
network 26 to remote terminal 38, step 206.
[0058] Upon receiving interview form 46, individual 36 enters in
remote terminal 38 answers to each question and transfers the
answers through communication network 26 to profile computer 12.
Profile computer 12 receives the answers, step 208, and profile
generator 16 generates from the received answers motivational
driver profile 94, comprehension capacity profile 96, and media
selection profile 98, step 210.
[0059] To generate motivational driver profile 94, profile
generator 16 examines the answers to each question in category 60
of interview form 46, as shown in FIG. 3. For each of the six
subsets of questions 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, and 72, profile generator
16 scores the answers given by individual 36 and adds the
individual scores into a total score expressing the value placed by
individual 36 on each motivating factor for modifying his or her
behavior.
[0060] For example, in one possible embodiment, the total score for
each motivating factor is constrained to be a number between 1 and
10 with 10 indicating the highest value placed on the motivating
factor and 1 indicating the lowest value placed on the motivating
factor. In this embodiment, profile generator 16 scores the answers
received for each of the six subsets of questions in category 60
and calculates six numbers between 1 and 10 that numerically
indicate the value placed by individual 36 on longevity, quality of
life, family life, social acceptability, social responsibility, and
economy. Of course, other scoring methods are possible in
alternative embodiments. Specific techniques for scoring
questionnaires in this manner are well known in the art.
[0061] Similarly, profile generator 16 calculates numeric values
from the answers received for category 74, comprehension capacity
questions, and category 84, media preference questions, to create
comprehension capacity profile 96 and media selection profile 98,
respectively. Profiles 94, 96, and 98 are then transferred to
individual 36 at remote terminal 38 in confirmation form 110, as
shown in FIG. 4. Individual 36 accepts or rejects each of profiles
94, 96, and 98 and transfers the completed confirmation form 110 to
profile computer 12 such that form 110 is received by profile
generator 16. Profile generator 16 reads completed confirmation
form 110 to determine if each of profiles 94, 96, and 98 have been
confirmed by individual 36, decision step 212.
[0062] If each of profiles 94, 96, and 98 are confirmed, they are
then stored in profile record 100 of profile database 20, step 214.
If any of profiles 94, 96, and 98 are rejected, system 10 returns
to step 204, tailoring interview form 46 to repeat the interviewing
process described above. Of course, if not all the profiles were
rejected, profile generator 16 will only transfer the categories of
interview form 46 relevant to the rejected profiles.
[0063] Next, in step 216, translator 18 receives through network 26
clinical data relating to health condition 52 of individual 36. To
receive medical claims data 102, translator 18 accesses medical
claims database 34 through network 26 and queries database 34 with
name 50 of individual 36. Similarly, to receive electronic medical
records 104, translator 18 accesses medical records database 30
through network 26 and queries database 30 with name 50 of
individual 36. Device measurements 106 are transferred from
monitoring device 40 to terminal 38 and through network 26 so that
they are received by translator 18. This completes the final step
shown in FIG. 7. The flow chart of FIG. 7 continues in FIG. 8.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 8, individual 36 next starts an
interactive, on-line education session with system 10, step 218. At
the start of the session, translator 18 translates the received
clinical data and profiles 94, 96, and 98 into profile code 114 of
individual 36, step 220. To produce profile code 114, translator 18
first processes the received clinical data to determine the current
clinical status of individual 36. For example, if individual 36 is
a diabetic and monitoring device 40 is a blood glucose meter, then
device measurements 106 will indicate the current blood glucose
levels of individual 36 and medical claims data 102 and medical
records 104 will indicate in which specific aspects of diabetes
related behavior individual 36 needs improvement. Translator 18
narrows the selection of profile code 114 to those profile codes
corresponding to the determined clinical status of individual
36.
[0065] Next translator 18 determines which one of the profile codes
corresponding to the determined clinical status of individual 36
best matches his or her motivational drivers, comprehension
capacity, and preferred media as recorded in profiles 94, 96, and
98, respectively. Once translator 18 selects the best match,
profile code 114 is stored in profile database 20 and sent to
educational fulfillment bank 22.
[0066] Matching program 116 then matches profile code 114 to index
code 118 of piece of educational material 120, step 222. Matching
program 116 further determines if educational fulfillment bank 22
requires external source 31 for additional educational material
relevant to profile code 114, decision step 224. If matching
program 116 determines that additional educational material is
required, educational fulfillment bank 22 accesses external source
31, step 226, and transfers the additional educational material
from source 31 to terminal 38. If matching program 116 determines
that additional educational material is not required, educational
fulfillment bank 22 proceeds directly to step 228, transferring
educational material 120 through network 26 to remote terminal
38.
[0067] Upon receiving educational material 120 at remote terminal
38, individual 36 begins an interactive learning process monitored
by educational performance evaluator 122. As shown in FIG. 6,
individual 36 is prompted to enter in terminal 38 educational
responses 124 to educational material 120. For example, if
individual 36 indicated in interview form 46 that he or she prefers
educational video games, educational material 120 will be an
educational video game requiring individual 36 to enter responses
124. In another example, individual 36 may prefer text documents,
so that educational material 120 is an interactive text document
with prompts individual 36 to provide educational responses
124.
[0068] Educational performance evaluator 122 receives educational
responses 124 through network 26. Evaluation algorithm 126 then
evaluates educational responses 124 to determine an educational
performance of individual 36, step 230.
[0069] Evaluation algorithm further generates profile updates 128
derived from educational responses 124. For example, if educational
responses 124 indicate that individual 36 does not understand
educational material 120, profile updates 128 will be updates
amending comprehension capacity profile 96. Profile generator 16
receives profile updates 128 from evaluator 122 and adjusts
profiles 94, 96, and 98 in accordance with profile updates 128,
step 232.
[0070] Next, system 10 determines if individual 36 has requested an
end to the interactive educational session, decision step 234. If
individual 36 has not requested an end, system 10 returns to step
220, generating profile code 114 based on adjusted profiles 94, 96,
and 98. If individual 36 does request an end to the session,
adjusted profiles 94, 96, and 98 are stored in profile database 20
for a subsequent educational session and the current session ends,
step 236.
[0071] Before the start of the subsequent education session,
translator 18 receives updated clinical data through network 26 to
determine if individual 36 has made an improvement in his or her
health-related behavior. Based on the updated clinical data and
adjusted profiles 94, 96, and 98, translator 18 generates a new
profile code for targeting educational material to individual 36.
In this manner, system 10 provides on-going adjustment to the
educational material targeted to individual 36 based on the
individual's performance in modifying his or her behavior.
SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0072] Although the above description contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention but merely as illustrations of the presently preferred
embodiment. Many other embodiments of the invention are
possible.
[0073] For example, the questionnaire generator, profile generator,
translator, and profile database need not be centrally located on
one profile computer. In an alternative embodiment, the
questionnaire generator, profile generator, translator, and profile
database may be located on separate computers that are networked
together. Further, the educational fulfillment bank need not be
located at the same site and share the same network connection with
the profile computer. The system and method would be equally
effective if the educational fulfillment bank were networked to the
profile computer through the communication network.
[0074] Further, the system and method described in the preferred
embodiment focus on an individual who is a smoker or a diabetic.
These health conditions are for illustrative purposes only. The
system and method of the invention are equally effective for
customizing health education to induce behavior modification in
individuals suffering from asthma, high blood pressure, alcohol or
drug abuse, or any other health-related condition.
[0075] Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined,
not by examples given, but by the appended claims and their legal
equivalents.
* * * * *