一个自动化对话代理自助项目：随机对照试验

An Automated Conversational Agent Self-Help Program: Randomized Controlled Trial.

作者信息

Foran Heather M, Kubb Christian, Mueller Janina, Poff Spencer, Ung Megan, Li Margaret, Smith Eric Michael, Akinyemi Akinniyi, Kambadur Melanie, Waller Franziska, Graf Mario, Boureau Y-Lan

机构信息

Department of Health Psychology, University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria.

Meta AI Fundamental Research, Menlo Park, CA, United States.

出版信息

J Med Internet Res. 2024 Dec 6;26:e53829. doi: 10.2196/53829.

DOI:10.2196/53829

PMID:39641985

原文链接:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11662185/

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Health promotion and growth-based interventions can effectively improve individual well-being; however, significant gaps in access and utilization still exist.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to develop and test the effectiveness and implementation of a new, widely targeted conversational agent prevention program (Zenny) designed to enhance well-being.

METHODS

A total of 1345 individuals in the United States were recruited online and randomly assigned to either (1) a self-help program intervention delivered via an automated conversational agent on WhatsApp or (2) an active control group that had access to evidence-based wellness resources available online. The primary outcomes were well-being (measured using the 5-item World Health Organization Well-being Scale), psychosocial flourishing (assessed with the Flourishing Scale), and positive psychological health (evaluated with the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form). Outcome measures were collected at baseline and again 1 month postassessment. All analyses were conducted using an intention-to-treat approach.

RESULTS

Both groups showed significant improvements in well-being (self-help program intervention group effect size: Cohen d=0.26, P<.001; active control group effect size: d=0.24, P<.001), psychosocial flourishing (intervention: d=0.19, P<.001; active control: d=0.18, P<.001), and positive psychological health (intervention: d=0.17, P=.001; active control: d=0.24, P<.001) at postassessment. However, there were no significant differences in effectiveness between the 2 groups (P ranged from .56 to .92). As hypothesized a priori, a greater number of days spent actively engaging with the conversational agent was associated with larger improvements in well-being at postassessment among participants in the intervention group (β=.109, P=.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study suggest that the free conversational agent wellness self-help program was as effective as evidence-based web resources. Further research should explore strategies to increase participant engagement over time, as only a portion of participants were actively involved, and higher engagement was linked to greater improvements in well-being. Long-term follow-up studies are also necessary to assess whether these effects remain stable over time.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06208566; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06208566; OSF Registries osf.io/ahe2r; https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/ahe2r.

摘要

背景

健康促进和基于成长的干预措施可以有效改善个人幸福感；然而，在获取和利用方面仍存在显著差距。

目的

本研究旨在开发并测试一种新的、广泛针对的对话式智能体预防计划（Zenny）的有效性和实施情况，该计划旨在提升幸福感。

方法

在美国通过网络招募了1345名个体，并将他们随机分为两组：（1）通过WhatsApp上的自动对话式智能体提供的自助计划干预组；（2）可获取在线循证健康资源的积极对照组。主要结局指标包括幸福感（使用5项世界卫生组织幸福感量表进行测量）、心理社会蓬勃发展（用蓬勃发展量表进行评估）和积极心理健康（用心理健康连续体简表进行评价）。在基线时和评估后1个月再次收集结局指标。所有分析均采用意向性分析方法。

结果

两组在评估后幸福感（自助计划干预组效应量：科恩d = 0.26，P <.001；积极对照组效应量：d = 0.24，P <.001）、心理社会蓬勃发展（干预组：d = 0.19，P <.001；积极对照组：d = 0.18，P <.001）和积极心理健康（干预组：d = 0.17，P =.001；积极对照组：d = 0.24，P <.001）方面均有显著改善。然而，两组之间在有效性方面没有显著差异（P值范围为0.56至0.92）。如先验假设，干预组参与者在评估后与对话式智能体积极互动的天数越多，幸福感改善越大（β = 0.109，P = 0.04）。