Development of Chatbot-Assisted Smoking Cessation Telehealth Intervention: A Case Report

Tobacco use is still a top preventable public health concern in the US. It causes serious health problems, including the cardiovascular system, lungs, mental issues, and cancers. To help tobacco users who want to quit, we developed a chatbot-assisted smoking cessation telehealth intervention targeting adults. This case report describes the development and evaluation of developed telehealth intervention. Utilizing rule-based chatbots and motivational interviewing principles, the study aimed to assess intervention efficacy. Data from four participants revealed varying impacts on motivation, nicotine dependency, and confidence to quit smoking. Most participants reported engaging in suggested strategies for handling tobacco cravings, indicating the potential advantage of chatbot assistance. However, the small sample size limits the generalizability of findings, necessitating further evaluation with a larger group. Despite limitations, this study demonstrates the feasibility and potential effectiveness of chatbot-assisted telehealth interventions in smoking cessation efforts, underscoring the need for future research.