Model Personalization in Behavioral Interventions using Model-on-Demand Estimation and Discrete Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation

This paper presents the use of discrete Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (DSPSA) to optimize dynamical models meaningful for personalized interventions in behavioral medicine, with emphasis on physical activity. DSPSA is used to determine an optimal set of model features and parameter values which would otherwise be chosen either through exhaustive search or be specified a priori. The modeling technique examined in this study is Model-on-Demand (MoD) estimation, which synergistically manages local and global modeling, and represents an appealing alternative to traditional approaches such as ARX estimation. The combination of DSPSA and MoD in behavioral medicine can provide individualized models for participant-specific interventions. MoD estimation, enhanced with a DSPSA search, can be formulated to provide not only better explanatory information about a participant’s physical behavior but also predictive power, providing greater insight into environmental and mental states that may be most conducive for participants to benefit from the actions of the intervention. A case study from data collected from a representative participant of the Just Walk intervention is presented in support of these conclusions.