Abstract
Virtual assistants are programs that interact with users through text or voice messages simulating a human-based conversation. The development of healthcare virtual assistants that use messaging platforms is rapidly increasing. Still, there is a lack of validation of these assistants. In particular, this work aimed to validate the effectiveness of a healthcare virtual assistant, integrated within messaging platforms, with the aim of improving medication adherence in patients with comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus and depressive disorder. For this purpose, a nine-month pilot study was designed and subsequently conducted. The virtual assistant reminds patients about their medication and provides healthcare professionals with the ability to monitor their patients. We analyzed the medication possession ratio (MPR), measured the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and obtained the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) score in the patients before and after the study. We also conducted interviews with all participants. A total of thirteen patients and five nurses used and evaluated the proposed virtual assistant using the messaging platform Signal. Results showed that on average, the medication adherence improved. In the final interview, 69% of the patients agreed with the idea of continuing to use the virtual assistant after the study.
Highlights
This research provided an overall perspective of how virtual assistants can affect patients’ medication adherence, and the improvements and limitations that arose while using the virtual assistant under study
The findings of the study suggest that the use of virtual assistants can be useful and effective for improving patient medication adherence
The mean of the medical appointments per month decreased by 0.7 appointments per month, which supports the potential use of virtual assistants for reducing associated healthcare resources
Summary
Diabetes is a major health issue, affecting 463 million people worldwide, and is expected to increase to 700 million by 2045 [1]. Depression is a common disease that affects more than 268 million people worldwide [7]. Patients with depression have mood fluctuations that affect their daily lives. These patients have problems in handling challenges at work, with family, or at school. This serious health disease, characterized by persistent sadness, is more frequent in patients with chronic diseases in general, and diabetes in particular [8], and is associated with poor medication adherence in patients with comorbidities [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
