Crossing the Chasm between Clinical Evidence and Clinical Practice: Persuasive Technology and Translational Science

Translational Science is receiving increasing attention in order to accelerate the process of developing useful clinical interventions starting with basic biological discoveries. The stages in translation are denoted T0, T1, T2, T3, T4. The four transitions between stages can pose formidable difficulties and are called the four ‘Valleys of Death’. In this paper we suggest that the methodologies of Persuasive Technology and Behavior Change Support Systems can provide a conceptual and theoretical framework for crossing the valley between T2 (Clinical Research) and T3 (Clinical Implementation). We present several studies that provide intriguing evidence for this suggestion.