Alma Mohammed Alturaiki, H. Banjar, A. Barefah, Salwa A. Alnajjar, S. Hindawi
{"title":"A Smart Chatbot for Interactive Management in Beta Thalassemia Patients","authors":"Alma Mohammed Alturaiki, H. Banjar, A. Barefah, Salwa A. Alnajjar, S. Hindawi","doi":"10.1155/2022/9734518","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Background β-thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the production of hemoglobin molecules owing to the reduction or absence of beta chains. Transfusion therapy has had a key role in extending the lifespan of β-thalassemia patients. This life-saving therapy is linked to numerous assessments and complications that now comprise most thalassemia management considerations. Consequently, many patients do not receive adequate information about the required assessments, as indicated by evidence-based medical guidelines. Patients with β-thalassemia may benefit from chatbots that follow up on their condition and that provide the required assessment information. Self-management will hopefully have a positive impact on health outcomes. Objectives This study aims to develop a chatbot that can assist in the management of β-thalassemia by providing the assessment information required to monitor patients' statuses. Methods The chatbot operated as a messaging system. A question/answer system was created based on knowledge pertaining to β-thalassemia assembled from experts, medical guidelines, and articles. Recommendations regarding the patient's follow-up assessment are made based on the answers. Results A prototype was implemented to demonstrate how the chatbots could dynamically and flexibly provide the assessment information required to follow up on and monitor patients. A small sample of adults with β-thalassemia used the chatbot to examine the system's usability and perceived utility. A system usability scale and utility scale were implemented to complete a post-test survey. The chatbots were considered by 34 patients, of whom the majority (72%) found them easy to use, while more than 90% of patients considered their use beneficial. Most of the participants agreed that the chatbots could improve their knowledge about their β-thalassemia assessments. Conclusion Our findings suggest that chatbots can be beneficial to the development of recommended tests and management related to the assessment of β-thalassemia.","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2022-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9734518","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Background β-thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the production of hemoglobin molecules owing to the reduction or absence of beta chains. Transfusion therapy has had a key role in extending the lifespan of β-thalassemia patients. This life-saving therapy is linked to numerous assessments and complications that now comprise most thalassemia management considerations. Consequently, many patients do not receive adequate information about the required assessments, as indicated by evidence-based medical guidelines. Patients with β-thalassemia may benefit from chatbots that follow up on their condition and that provide the required assessment information. Self-management will hopefully have a positive impact on health outcomes. Objectives This study aims to develop a chatbot that can assist in the management of β-thalassemia by providing the assessment information required to monitor patients' statuses. Methods The chatbot operated as a messaging system. A question/answer system was created based on knowledge pertaining to β-thalassemia assembled from experts, medical guidelines, and articles. Recommendations regarding the patient's follow-up assessment are made based on the answers. Results A prototype was implemented to demonstrate how the chatbots could dynamically and flexibly provide the assessment information required to follow up on and monitor patients. A small sample of adults with β-thalassemia used the chatbot to examine the system's usability and perceived utility. A system usability scale and utility scale were implemented to complete a post-test survey. The chatbots were considered by 34 patients, of whom the majority (72%) found them easy to use, while more than 90% of patients considered their use beneficial. Most of the participants agreed that the chatbots could improve their knowledge about their β-thalassemia assessments. Conclusion Our findings suggest that chatbots can be beneficial to the development of recommended tests and management related to the assessment of β-thalassemia.
期刊介绍:
The overall aim of the International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications is to bring together science and applications of medical practice and medical care at a distance as well as their supporting technologies such as, computing, communications, and networking technologies with emphasis on telemedicine techniques and telemedicine applications. It is directed at practicing engineers, academic researchers, as well as doctors, nurses, etc. Telemedicine is an information technology that enables doctors to perform medical consultations, diagnoses, and treatments, as well as medical education, away from patients. For example, doctors can remotely examine patients via remote viewing monitors and sound devices, and/or sampling physiological data using telecommunication. Telemedicine technology is applied to areas of emergency healthcare, videoconsulting, telecardiology, telepathology, teledermatology, teleophthalmology, teleoncology, telepsychiatry, teledentistry, etc. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications will highlight the continued growth and new challenges in telemedicine, applications, and their supporting technologies, for both application development and basic research. Papers should emphasize original results or case studies relating to the theory and/or applications of telemedicine. Tutorial papers, especially those emphasizing multidisciplinary views of telemedicine, are also welcome. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications employs a paperless, electronic submission and evaluation system to promote a rapid turnaround in the peer-review process.