A chatbot to help people with substance use disorder get support remotely
A conversational agent to support remote care for individuals with substance use disorder
This study is testing a friendly chatbot named Suzy that helps people recovering from substance use disorder by keeping them connected with their care team and coaches, making it easier for them to stay on track during their recovery journey.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dimagi, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10928274 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research develops an intelligent chatbot named Suzy, designed to provide on-demand follow-up support for individuals recovering from substance use disorder (SUD). The chatbot will engage patients in their recovery journey by facilitating communication with their clinical care team and recovery coaches. Using a human-centered design approach, the research will evaluate Suzy's effectiveness through a mixed methods study involving primary care patients over a 12-week intervention period. Patients will complete assessments at baseline, weekly, and at the end of the study to measure the impact of the chatbot on their recovery process.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals in long-term recovery from substance use disorder who are receiving care from primary care providers and recovery coaches.
Not a fit: Patients who are not engaged in recovery programs or those without access to primary care services may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance patient engagement and support for individuals recovering from substance use disorder, potentially improving recovery outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success with digital health interventions for substance use disorder, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Dimagi, INC. — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ho, Y. Xian — Dimagi, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ho, Y. Xian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.