Validation of a Virtual Assistant for Improving Medication Adherence in Patients with Comorbid Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Depressive Disorder

Roca, S. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Lozano, M.L. ; Garcia, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Alesanco, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: 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.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212056

Año: 2021

Publicado en: International journal of environmental research and public health 18, 22 (2021), 12056 [17 pp.]
ISSN: 1661-7827

Factor impacto JCR: 4.614 (2021)

Categ. JCR: PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH rank: 45 / 183 = 0.246 (2021) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH rank: 71 / 210 = 0.338 (2021) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES rank: 100 / 279 = 0.358 (2021) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 4.5 - Medicine (Q2) - Environmental Science (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.814 - Pollution (Q1) - Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA-FEDER/T31-20R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO-FEDER/TIN2016-76770-R

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Ingeniería Telemática (Dpto. Ingeniería Electrón.Com.)