100 Participants Needed

Conversational Agent for Cancer

(ECA-PRO Aim 3 Trial)

MP
JM
Overseen ByJasmine Malave, BS
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Tufts Medical Center
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Over the past decade, the investigators have developed and tested a toll with the potential to enhance PROs at the individual level- embodied conversational agents (ECA), which are computer characters that simulate face-to-face conversation using voice, hand gestures, gaze cues, and other nonverbal behavior. The investigators have successfully used ECAs in behavioral interventions for populations with limited health literacy, elderly patients, and patients with cancer. Face-to-face encounters, in conjunction with written instructions supported by pictures, remains one of the best methods for communicating information in general but is particularly effective for individuals with limited health literacy. The investigators have also demonstrated that ECAs can be used as valid alternatives to standard paper-based surveys for substance use screening, and that the display of empathy for patients and other relational behavior by ECAs leads to increased engagement by patients over time.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Embodied Conversational Agent treatment for cancer?

Research suggests that chatbots, which are similar to conversational agents, can effectively support cancer patients during treatment by reducing emergency visits and hospitalizations, potentially saving time for healthcare providers.12345

Is the Conversational Agent for Cancer safe for humans?

There is limited safety data specifically for conversational agents in cancer care, but a study compared a chatbot to physicians for providing information to breast cancer patients, suggesting some level of safety in its use.15678

How is the Embodied Conversational Agent treatment different from other cancer treatments?

The Embodied Conversational Agent is unique because it uses artificial intelligence to simulate human conversation, providing dynamic interaction and support for cancer patients through text or voice on smartphones or computers. Unlike traditional treatments, it focuses on enhancing patient follow-up and potentially reducing emergency visits by offering real-time information and support.1291011

Research Team

MP

Michael Paasche-Orlow, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Tufts Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English or Spanish-speaking adults with cancer who can consent independently, have good hearing and vision (with correction), and are patients of oncologists at Boston Medical Center. There are no specific exclusion criteria.

Inclusion Criteria

Must have adequate corrected vision to use the ECA system (based on a 1 minute ECA functional screener)
Provider subjects must be practicing oncologists at BMC
I can hear well enough to use special medical equipment.
See 2 more

Exclusion Criteria

Not able to use the ECA screener
Subject is incarcerated
Subject plans to leave the Boston area in the next 6 weeks

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomized to provide data for 6 weeks using ECA-PRO or standard web administration (REDCap)

6 weeks
Weekly data collection

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Embodied Conversational Agent
Trial Overview The study tests an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) tool designed to improve patient-reported outcomes in cancer care by simulating face-to-face conversation. It also uses REDCap surveys to collect data on its effectiveness.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Embodied Conversational AgentExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The ECA systems compromises 1) a smartphone based ECA patient interface; 2) clinician authoring tool, to enable new measurement systems to be rapidly configured 3) clinician and patient data visualizations; and 4) a central server with relation database, administrative user interfaces and ability to send asynchronous notifications to users' smartphones.
Group II: RedCap SurveyActive Control1 Intervention
An internet-based measure will use PROMIS Profile measures which will include depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain intensity and interference, sleep disturbance, physical function and satisfaction with social role

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Tufts Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials
264
Recruited
264,000+

Boston Medical Center

Collaborator

Trials
410
Recruited
890,000+

Findings from Research

In a study involving 142 women with breast cancer, the artificial conversational agent (chatbot) Vik provided answers that were as satisfying as those given by a group of physicians, with a success rate of 69% compared to 64% for physicians, demonstrating noninferiority.
This research suggests that chatbots like Vik can effectively inform patients about their treatment, potentially reducing the need for in-person consultations for minor health concerns, allowing doctors to focus on patients who require more direct care.
A Chatbot Versus Physicians to Provide Information for Patients With Breast Cancer: Blind, Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial.Bibault, JE., Chaix, B., Guillemassé, A., et al.[2020]
A study involving 63 patients (20 using a chatbot and 43 receiving usual care) found that the chatbot significantly reduced emergency department visits and unscheduled hospitalizations for patients undergoing chemotherapy for gynecologic cancers.
Patients using the chatbot had an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 0.27 for ED visits and 0.31 for unscheduled hospitalizations, indicating a strong potential for chatbots to improve patient management and reduce healthcare burdens during cancer treatment.
Using a chatbot to reduce emergency department visits and unscheduled hospitalizations among patients with gynecologic malignancies during chemotherapy: A retrospective cohort study.Huang, MY., Weng, CS., Kuo, HL., et al.[2023]
In a study assessing the quality of responses from AI chatbots ChatGPT and Bing regarding cancer-related questions, ChatGPT scored an average of 3.9 while Bing scored 3.2, indicating that ChatGPT provided higher quality information overall (P < 0.001).
Despite the potential of AI chatbots in healthcare, the study revealed that 3% of ChatGPT's responses and 15% of Bing's responses had serious shortcomings, highlighting the need for ongoing improvements to ensure accurate and supportive information for cancer patients.
Physician Assessment of ChatGPT and Bing Answers to American Cancer Society's Questions to Ask About Your Cancer.Janopaul-Naylor, JR., Koo, A., Qian, DC., et al.[2023]

References

A Chatbot Versus Physicians to Provide Information for Patients With Breast Cancer: Blind, Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial. [2020]
Using a chatbot to reduce emergency department visits and unscheduled hospitalizations among patients with gynecologic malignancies during chemotherapy: A retrospective cohort study. [2023]
Using Natural Language Processing to Classify Serious Illness Communication with Oncology Patients. [2023]
Physician Assessment of ChatGPT and Bing Answers to American Cancer Society's Questions to Ask About Your Cancer. [2023]
Evaluation of inpatient medication guidance from an artificial intelligence chatbot. [2023]
Analysis of adverse drug events as a way to improve cancer patient care. [2022]
Caveat Medicus: Clinician experiences in publishing reports of serious oncology-associated adverse drug reactions. [2020]
Ask Rosa - The making of a digital genetic conversation tool, a chatbot, about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. [2022]
Conversational agents in healthcare: a systematic review. [2022]
Feasibility and effectiveness of artificial intelligence-driven conversational agents in healthcare interventions: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. [2023]
Choice of Behavioral Change Techniques in Health Care Conversational Agents: Protocol for a Scoping Review. [2021]
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