A Virtual Agent to Support Individuals Living With Physical and Mental Comorbidities: Co-Design and Acceptability Testing

Katherine Easton   ^{1, 2} , BSc, MRES, PhD ;   Stephen Potter   ^{1, 2} , BSc, MSc, PhD ;   Remi Bec   ^{3, 4} , MA, PhD ;   Matthew Bennion   ^{2, 5, 6} , BEng, MSc, PhD ;   Heidi Christensen   ^{2, 5} , MSc, PhD ;   Cheryl Grindell   ³ , BSc, MSc ;   Bahman Mirheidari   ⁵ , BSc, MSc, PhD ;   Scott Weich   ¹ , MSc, MD ;   Luc de Witte   ^{1, 2} , MD, PhD ;   Daniel Wolstenholme   ³ , BSc, MMSc ;   Mark S. Hawley   ^{1, 2} , BSc, PhD

¹ School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

² Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

³ Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Yorkshire and Humber, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, National Institute of Health, Sheffield, United Kingdom

⁴ Lab4Living, Art and Design Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom

⁵ Department of Computer Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

⁶ Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom