Tilburg University

Experience the future, embrace the change: The potential of IX to create and leverage teachable moments and improve lifestyle behaviors in osteoarthritis patients

A healthy lifestyle is crucial for many patient populations, helping reduce symptoms, prevent disease progression, and optimize medical procedures. Yet, standard doctor’s advice or risk communication alone rarely leads to lasting behavior change. Doctor consultations can create powerful ‘teachable moments’, a patient’s sudden realization of a disease’s consequences, such as acute symptoms or limited mobility. While these moments offer a crucial window of opportunity for behavior change, they are not universal and their potential impact is not fully realized. This innovative project systematically investigates how and when immersive experiences (IX) effectively and responsibly promote health behaviour change in osteoarthritis (OA) patients through a structured, multi-method approach. Specifically, it explores whether IX can create and reinforce teachable moments to enhance motivation for behaviour change. OA is a highly prevalent chronic joint disease that causes pain and reduced mobility. OA is associated with obesity, and weight loss in OA patients improves clinical outcomes, including reducing the need for knee replacement and revision surgeries. IX will be explored in two ways. As motivation igniters, they allow patients to vividly experience a teachable moment, by experiencing the long-term consequences of unhealthy behaviour in an emotionally compelling way. As motivation sustainers, IX can reinforce teachable moments by helping patients visualize goals and strengthen commitment to long-term lifestyle change. This approach translates abstract health risks and goals into tangible, motivating experiences. A unique aspect of this project is the formation of a multidisciplinary consortium that bridges a university, a top clinical hospital, and industry partners. This consortium is uniquely positioned to identify OA patients’ needs and preferences, co-design immersive scenarios, and ensure feasibility and ethical integrity. This project serves as a stepping stone toward a modular immersive lifestyle intervention for various lifestyle-related diseases, bridging the gap between limited lifestyle guidance and the continuous support patients need.