Development and Piloting an Avatar-based Intervention to Support Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute18 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this research study is to provide an avatar-based technology during a subject's stay for participants who have been admitted to the hospital for reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic transplant. The intervention received will be the care.coach technology.

This research study is a Pilot Study, which means the investigators are studying the application in a smaller group of people to understand whether the technology, care.coach, is easy to use. This is a single site study at Dana-Farber Brigham and Women's Cancer Center. * Aim 1 of the study will be an 8 - 10 participant focus group of nurses, navigator nurses, physicians, and NPs/PAs to refine the avatar protocols. * Aim 2 of the study will be a pilot of 18 participants undergoing RIC allogeneic HCT in the hospital. * The research study procedures include screening for eligibility, a brief call with a research assistant during use of care.coach avatar, and a survey after study completion. * The avatar is designed to communicate with participants regarding transplantation education and provide reminders for eating, drinking, and activity. * care.coach is a digital, avatar-based technology that communicates using natural speech software. * care.coach is supporting this research by providing Dana-Farber access to its technology. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also supports this research.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Interventions

Care.CoachBEHAVIORAL

Care.coach is a "human-in the-loop" conversational agent (avatar) used to interact and converse with patients through natural dialogue and text-to-speech software that is powered by a team of trained human staff, called health advocates.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria for HCT focus group: * Age 18+. * DFCI/HCC HCT nurse navigators, inpatient HCT nurses, and HCT physicians and extenders (NP/PA). Inclusion Criteria for care.coach pilot: * Age 18+. * Admitted for reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic HCT Exclusion Criteria for care.coach pilot: Deemed by clinical staff or RA to be unable to converse with an avatar, due to: * Severe, uncorrectable hearing impairment and simultaneous severe, uncorrectable vision impairment. * Severe speech impairment that precludes understanding by staff (and by extension, by the avatar). * Not fluent in English.

Locations (2)

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of Participants Retained

Participants complete study protocol, including post-completion survey, from enrollment to hospital discharge or 3 weeks from enrollment (whichever is earlier).

Time frame: Baseline to 3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Final Cohort Dissatisfaction Rate

Percent of patients dissatisfied with the avatar in the third 6-patient cohort.

Time frame: 3 weeks

The Completion Rate Post-Pilot Survey

Rate of completion of post-pilot survey within 1 week of discharge

Time frame: 3 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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