Increasing Participation in a TelePrEP Program for Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents and Young Adults in Louisiana: Protocol for an SMS Text Messaging-Based Chatbot.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-31-2023

Publication Title

JMIR Research Protocols

Keywords

chatbot, conversational agent, develop, iterative, messaging, text message, HIV, PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis, user testing, rule-based, prevention, eHealth, telehealth, mobile phone, sexual minority youth, gender minority youth, young adult, youth, adolescent, sexual minority, gender minority, gender diverse, gender diversity, SMS, artificial intelligence, patient education, health information, web-based information, user experience

ISSN

1929-0748

Volume

12

First Page

e42983

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are at increased risk of HIV infection, particularly in the Southern United States. Despite the availability of effective biomedical prevention strategies, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), access and uptake remain low among SGM AYAs. In response, the Louisiana Department of Health initiated the LA TelePrEP Program, which leverages the power of telemedicine to connect Louisiana residents to PrEP. A virtual TelePrEP Navigator guides users through the enrollment process, answers questions, schedules appointments, and facilitates lab testing and medication delivery. To increase the participation of SGM AYAs in the program, the TelePrEP program partnered with researchers to develop a chatbot that would facilitate access to the program and support navigator functions. Chatbots are capable of carrying out many functions that reduce employee workload, and despite their successful use in health care and public health, they are relatively new to HIV prevention.

OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we describe the iterative and community-engaged process that we used to develop an SMS text messaging-based chatbot tailored to SGM AYAs that would support navigator functions and disseminate PrEP-related information.

METHODS: Our process was comprised of 2 phases: conceptualization and development. In the conceptualization phase, aspects of navigator responsibilities, program logistics, and user interactions to prioritize in chatbot programming (eg, scheduling appointments and answering questions) were identified. We also selected a commercially available chatbot platform that could execute these functions and could be programmed with minimal coding experience. In the development phase, we engaged Department of Health staff and SGM AYAs within our professional and personal networks. Five different rounds of testing were conducted with various groups to evaluate each iteration of the chatbot. After each iteration of the testing process, the research team met to discuss feedback, guide the programmer on incorporating modifications, and re-evaluate the chatbot's functionality.

RESULTS: Through our highly collaborative and community-engaged process, a rule-based chatbot with artificial intelligence components was successfully created. We gained important knowledge that could advance future chatbot development efforts for HIV prevention. Key to the PrEPBot's success was resolving issues that hampered the user experience, like asking unnecessary questions, responding too quickly, and misunderstanding user input.

CONCLUSIONS: HIV prevention researchers can feasibly and efficiently program a rule-based chatbot with the assistance of commercially available tools. Our iterative process of engaging researchers, program personnel, and different subgroups of SGM AYAs to obtain input was key to successful chatbot development. If the results of this pilot trial show that the chatbot is feasible and acceptable to SGM AYAs, future HIV researchers and practitioners could consider incorporating chatbots as part of their programs.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/42983.

Comments

Acknowledgments

The TelePrEP Chatbot project is a program project grant funded by the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network (ATN) for HIV/AIDS Interventions at the National Institutes of Health (U24HD089880). The Eunice Kennedy National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is the primary funder of this network, with the support of the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Drug Abuse, and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. In addition to the authors, the following team members made contributions to help us develop this chatbot: Monika Nayak, Jong-Yun Park, Emma De la Rosa, Sean Sylve, Laniece Thomas, Demi HS Ward, and Alex Yu. We would also like to especially acknowledge the contributions of our community members: Neil Fitzpatrick, Fredy Garcia, Rankin Hobbs, Marcus Shacknow, and Justin Villareal, and the members of the nolaHYPE Community Advisory Board and the National ATN Community Advisory Board.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.2196/42983

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