A Feasibility and Acceptability Study of a Large Language Model-based Conversational Agent for Brief Alcohol Intervention Among Emerging Adults
Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
American emerging adults (EAs; aged 18-29 years) have the highest rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the lowest levels of treatment engagement of any age group. Innovative, scalable, and cost-effective strategies are needed to expand early detection and intervention for EAs engaged in patterns of drinking associated with AUD. Because digital technology use is frequent among EAs, digital interventions may be a particularly suitable way to reach this population. Prior studies of digital alcohol interventions demonstrate modest but consistent reductions in alcohol use, but these tools are often limited by a lack of interactivity and personalization. Large language model (LLM)-based chatbots, such as ChatGPT, may address these limitations by enabling personalized, adaptive, and human-like engagement. These features have the potential to increase uptake and engagement with screening and brief interventions among EAs. This study will develop, validate, and conduct an open trial of an LLM-based chatbot-delivered brief intervention designed to reduce alcohol use and problems among EAs, with the primary goal of establishing preliminary feasibility and acceptability.
Description
This feasibility and acceptability study will develop, validate, and conduct a Phase I single-arm open trial of a large language model (LLM)-based chatbot-delivered brief intervention designed to reduce alcohol use and problems among EAs. To develop the augmented LLM, the investigators will use instruction fine-tuning to enhance conversational abilities within the context of brief interventions based on high-fidelity recordings of sessions from prior clinical trials and simulated patient-provider interactions. A retrieval augmented generation system will be developed to ensure the model delive…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–29 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-29 years old * Engaged in past-month hazardous drinking (consuming ≥ 5/4 drinks for men/women on two or more occasions in the past month) or exceeded recommended guidelines for risky drinking (\> 14/7 drinks per week for men/women) * Able to read and comprehend English at a 5th grade level Exclusion Criteria: * Report a history of or active psychosis * Previous or current engagement in alcohol or drug treatment * Risk for alcohol withdrawal as evidenced by very heavy weekly drinking reports on the alcohol screener (\> 40 standard drinks in a typical week in the past…
Interventions
- BehavioralLarge language model-based chatbot brief alcohol intervention session
The intervention is a large language model-based chatbot designed to delivered brief alcohol interventions using motivational interviewing-consistent strategies. The chatbot session will last approximately 45 minutes and will include a decisional balance exercise, feedback on drinking patterns, normative beliefs about drinking, alcohol-related consequences, goal setting, and harm-reduction strategies.
Location
- Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, Massachusetts