Smartphone-Based Virtual Agents to Help Individuals With Sleep Concerns During COVID-19 Confinement: Feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Artificial intelligence in healthcare
• Sleep medicine

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic led to increased psychosocial stress and sleep complaints.
• Smartphone-based apps offer a scalable solution for managing sleep issues.
• KANOPEE app developed for autonomous screening and digital behavioral interventions for sleep problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess the feasibility of the KANOPEE app during COVID-19 confinement in France.
• Evaluate user inclusion and follow-up rates.
• Examine user trust, acceptance, and intervention effects.

Main Methods:

• KANOPEE app utilizes an AI virtual agent for screening using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).
• Eligible users (ISI >14) engaged in a 2-stage intervention: sleep diary and personalized recommendations.
• Data collected included sociodemographics, ISI scores, sleep/wake schedules, and agent acceptance.

Main Results:

• 76% of users completed screening; 27.4% accepted the virtual agent.
• 21.5% proceeded to Step 1 and 28.3% of those to Step 2.
• Significant improvements in insomnia complaints (ISI) and sleep quality observed after intervention stages.

Conclusions:

• KANOPEE app shows promise for screening sleep complaints in populations.
• The app provides acceptable and practical behavioral advice for moderate insomnia.
• Further research needed for severely affected individuals (ISI >21).