A Smart Chatbot for Interactive Management in Beta Thalassemia Patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Hematology
• Patient Self-Management

Background:

• Beta-thalassemia (β-thalassemia) is an inherited blood disorder impacting hemoglobin production.
• Transfusion therapy is vital but associated with complex management needs and potential complications.
• Patients often lack adequate information on required assessments, hindering effective self-management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an AI-powered chatbot for beta-thalassemia (β-thalassemia) patient management.
• To provide patients with crucial information regarding necessary follow-up assessments.
• To enhance patient understanding and engagement in their care.

Main Methods:

• A question/answer chatbot system was developed using expert knowledge, medical guidelines, and literature.
• The system provides personalized recommendations for patient follow-up assessments based on user input.
• A prototype was tested for usability and utility among adult beta-thalassemia (β-thalassemia) patients.

Main Results:

• The chatbot prototype demonstrated flexible and dynamic delivery of assessment information.
• A majority of patients (72%) found the chatbot easy to use.
• Over 90% of participants perceived the chatbot as beneficial for understanding their assessments.

Conclusions:

• Chatbots show significant potential in improving the delivery of recommended tests and management strategies for beta-thalassemia (β-thalassemia).
• This technology can empower patients with knowledge, potentially leading to improved health outcomes.
• Further development and implementation of such tools are warranted for chronic disease management.