Automated motivational interviewing for diabetes counseling
Transforming motivational interviewing into a computable model for automated patient diabetic counseling.
['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · NIH-11178480
This project builds an AI-based counseling coach that uses motivational interviewing to help adults with or at risk for type 2 diabetes improve healthy habits.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GALVESTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11178480 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be hearing from or chatting with a digital coach that uses the same supportive, change-focused style as a human counselor. Researchers will translate motivational interviewing techniques into computer-readable rules and train dialogue models using expert examples and speech/text data. The team will develop a voice or text interface and pilot the system with people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes to see how the coach interacts and encourages behavior changes. Early testing will focus on how usable and engaging the automated counselor is and how well it elicits the user's own reasons for change.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 diabetes or people at high risk who want behavior-change support and are comfortable using a voice or text app would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who prefer only in-person therapy, have serious cognitive impairment, or lack access to a smartphone or internet may not benefit from this digital approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide easy access to on-demand counseling that helps people lower diabetes risk and manage blood sugar through better diet, activity, and adherence.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional in-person motivational interviewing has strong evidence for helping behavior change, and early digital/automated MI tools show promise but are still fairly new and less proven.
Where this research is happening
GALVESTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON — GALVESTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: AMITH, MUHAMMAD FAHEEM — UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- Study coordinator: AMITH, MUHAMMAD FAHEEM
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.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus, Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)