Children and Adolescents Psychotherapy and Technology (CAPT) Research Lab, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
X2AI Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA.
Transl Behav Med. 2019 May 16;9(3):440-447. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibz043.
Behavioral intervention technologies (BITs) are unique ways to incorporate the benefits of technology and psychology to address differing health needs through various media, including Internet interventions, mobile apps, and video games. BITs present several possible benefits, including increased dissemination and accessibility, cost-effectiveness, increased engagement, and decreased stigma, especially among youth. A behavioral coaching chatbot, Tess, addresses different facets of behavioral health, such as depression and anxiety. Available 24/7, Tess delivers customized integrative support, psychoeducation, and interventions through brief conversations via existing communication channels (i.e., SMS text messaging and Facebook Messenger). This study assessed the feasibility of integrating Tess in behavioral counseling of adolescent patients (n = 23; Mage = 15.20 years; Rangeage = 9.78-18.54 years; 57% female) coping with weight management and prediabetes symptoms. Tess engaged patients via a preferred method of communication (SMS text messaging) in individualized conversations to promote treatment adherence, behavior change, and overall wellness. Adolescent patients reported experiencing positive progress toward their goals 81% of the time. The 4,123 messages exchanged and patients' reported usefulness ratings (96% of the time) illustrate that adolescents engaged with and viewed this chatbot as helpful. These results highlight the feasibility and benefit of support through artificial intelligence, specifically in a pediatric setting, which could be scaled to serve larger groups of patients. As a partner to clinicians, Tess can continue the therapeutic interaction outside office hours while maintaining patient satisfaction. Due to Tess's capacity for continuous learning, future iterations may have additional features to increase the user experience.
行为干预技术（BITs）是一种独特的方法，通过各种媒体（包括互联网干预、移动应用程序和视频游戏）将技术和心理学的优势结合起来，以满足不同的健康需求。BITs 具有几个潜在的好处，包括增加传播和可及性、成本效益、增加参与度和减少耻辱感，尤其是在年轻人中。一个行为教练聊天机器人 Tess 可以解决行为健康的不同方面，如抑郁和焦虑。Tess 24/7 可用，通过现有的沟通渠道（即短信和 Facebook Messenger）进行简短对话，为患者提供定制的综合支持、心理教育和干预。这项研究评估了在青少年患者（n=23；平均年龄为 15.20 岁；年龄范围为 9.78-18.54 岁；57%为女性）的行为咨询中整合 Tess 的可行性，这些患者正在应对体重管理和前驱糖尿病症状。Tess 通过青少年患者首选的沟通方式（短信）进行个性化对话，以促进治疗依从性、行为改变和整体健康。青少年患者报告说，他们有 81%的时间在朝着目标取得积极进展。总共交换了 4123 条消息，以及患者报告的有用性评分（96%的时间）表明，青少年与聊天机器人互动并认为它很有帮助。这些结果突出了人工智能支持的可行性和益处，特别是在儿科环境中，这可以扩展到为更多患者提供服务。作为临床医生的合作伙伴，Tess 可以在非办公时间继续进行治疗性互动，同时保持患者满意度。由于 Tess 具有持续学习的能力，未来的版本可能会增加其他功能，以提高用户体验。
