ABSTRACT
Interactive media technology provides a unique opportunity for tailoring health behavior change messages for individuals in a way that mass-produced brochures or videos cannot. However, the potential of interactive computer programs to serve this function has not yet been realized. One explanation for the small number of interactive programs with demonstrated efficacy is that few individuals possess the expertise necessary to develop them singlehandedly. To effectively use interactive technology in promoting health-related behavior change, program developers must understand:
1. the nature of the target behavior or health problem and its determinants among members of a specified population;
2. the processes of behavior change, including knowledge and application of a range of theories that address the determinants of the target behavior or health problem; and
3. interactive computer technologies and communication strategies, and how to combine them to create an effective health promotion program for the population of interest.
