Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study
Abstract BackgroundCancer-care complexity heightens communication challenges between health care providers and patients, impacting their treatment adherence. This is especially evident upon hospital discharge in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Digital health tools off...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2025-02-01
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| Series: | JMIR Cancer |
| Online Access: | https://cancer.jmir.org/2025/1/e64145 |
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| author | Miguel Bargas-Ochoa Alejandro Zulbaran-Rojas M G Finco Anthony B Costales Areli Flores-Camargo Rasha O Bara Manuel Pacheco Tina Phan Aleena Khichi Bijan Najafi |
| author_facet | Miguel Bargas-Ochoa Alejandro Zulbaran-Rojas M G Finco Anthony B Costales Areli Flores-Camargo Rasha O Bara Manuel Pacheco Tina Phan Aleena Khichi Bijan Najafi |
| author_sort | Miguel Bargas-Ochoa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
BackgroundCancer-care complexity heightens communication challenges between health care providers and patients, impacting their treatment adherence. This is especially evident upon hospital discharge in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Digital health tools offer potential solutions to address communication challenges seen in current discharge protocols. We aim to explore the usability and acceptability of an interactive health platform among discharged patients who underwent oncology-related procedures.
MethodsA 4-week exploratory cohort study was conducted. Following hospital discharge, a tablet equipped with an integrated Personal Virtual Assistant (PVA) system was provided to patients who underwent oncology-related procedures. The PVA encompasses automated features that provide personalized care plans, developed through collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and engineers from various disciplines. These plans include guidance on daily specific assignments that were divided into 4 categories: medication intake, exercise,
ResultsIn total, 17 patients were enrolled. However, 1 (5.8%) patient dropped out from the study after 3 days due to health deterioration, leaving 16/17 (94.2%) completing the study (mean age 54.5, SD 12.7, years; n=9, 52% Caucasian; n=14, 82% with a gynecological disease; n=3, 18% with a hepatobiliary disease). At the study end point, adherence to care plan categories were 78% (SD 25%) for medications, 81% (SD 24%) for exercises, 61% (SD 30%) for surveys, and 58% (SD 44%) for specific tasks such as following step-by step wound care instructions, managing drains, administering injectable medications independently, and performing pelvic baths as instructed. There was an 80% patient endorsement (strongly agree or agree) across all TAM categories.
ConclusionThis study suggests the potential acceptability of the PVA among patients discharged after oncology-related procedures, with a dropout rate of less than 6% and fair-to-good adherence to tasks such as medication intake and exercise. However, these findings are preliminary due to the small sample size and highlight the need for further research with larger cohorts to validate and refine the system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3d0e4c3d3e194a5c812a03457fc9af0d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2369-1999 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Cancer |
| spelling | doaj-art-3d0e4c3d3e194a5c812a03457fc9af0d2025-08-20T03:15:16ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Cancer2369-19992025-02-0111e64145e6414510.2196/64145Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort StudyMiguel Bargas-Ochoahttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4419-1761Alejandro Zulbaran-Rojashttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3663-6882M G Fincohttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0637-2772Anthony B Costaleshttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4326-9782Areli Flores-Camargohttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0490-6630Rasha O Barahttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8464-8696Manuel Pachecohttp://orcid.org/0009-0002-4915-912XTina Phanhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-6834-4067Aleena Khichihttp://orcid.org/0009-0006-1255-8038Bijan Najafihttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0320-8101 Abstract BackgroundCancer-care complexity heightens communication challenges between health care providers and patients, impacting their treatment adherence. This is especially evident upon hospital discharge in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Digital health tools offer potential solutions to address communication challenges seen in current discharge protocols. We aim to explore the usability and acceptability of an interactive health platform among discharged patients who underwent oncology-related procedures. MethodsA 4-week exploratory cohort study was conducted. Following hospital discharge, a tablet equipped with an integrated Personal Virtual Assistant (PVA) system was provided to patients who underwent oncology-related procedures. The PVA encompasses automated features that provide personalized care plans, developed through collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and engineers from various disciplines. These plans include guidance on daily specific assignments that were divided into 4 categories: medication intake, exercise, ResultsIn total, 17 patients were enrolled. However, 1 (5.8%) patient dropped out from the study after 3 days due to health deterioration, leaving 16/17 (94.2%) completing the study (mean age 54.5, SD 12.7, years; n=9, 52% Caucasian; n=14, 82% with a gynecological disease; n=3, 18% with a hepatobiliary disease). At the study end point, adherence to care plan categories were 78% (SD 25%) for medications, 81% (SD 24%) for exercises, 61% (SD 30%) for surveys, and 58% (SD 44%) for specific tasks such as following step-by step wound care instructions, managing drains, administering injectable medications independently, and performing pelvic baths as instructed. There was an 80% patient endorsement (strongly agree or agree) across all TAM categories. ConclusionThis study suggests the potential acceptability of the PVA among patients discharged after oncology-related procedures, with a dropout rate of less than 6% and fair-to-good adherence to tasks such as medication intake and exercise. However, these findings are preliminary due to the small sample size and highlight the need for further research with larger cohorts to validate and refine the system.https://cancer.jmir.org/2025/1/e64145 |
| spellingShingle | Miguel Bargas-Ochoa Alejandro Zulbaran-Rojas M G Finco Anthony B Costales Areli Flores-Camargo Rasha O Bara Manuel Pacheco Tina Phan Aleena Khichi Bijan Najafi Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study JMIR Cancer |
| title | Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study |
| title_full | Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study |
| title_fullStr | Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study |
| title_short | Development and Implementation of a Personal Virtual Assistant for Patient Engagement and Communication in Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study |
| title_sort | development and implementation of a personal virtual assistant for patient engagement and communication in postsurgical cancer care feasibility cohort study |
| url | https://cancer.jmir.org/2025/1/e64145 |
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