Corowa-kun: Impact of a COVID-19 vaccine information chatbot on vaccine hesitancy, Japan 2021

Kobayashi, Takaaki; Nishina, Yuka; Tomoi, Hana; Harada, Ko; Tanaka, Kyuto; Matsumoto, Eiyu; Horimukai, Kenta; Ishihara, Jun; Sasaki, Shugo; Inaba, Kanako; Seguchi, Kyosuke; Takahashi, Hiromizu; Salinas, Jorge; Yamada, Yuji

doi:10.1101/2021.05.26.21257854

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The study was a web-based experiment on a French sample population, which found that interacting with a chatbot could promote more positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and intention to vaccinate [ 32 ]. A study (preprint) also showed an increase in vaccine acceptance in Japanese adults after using “Corowa-kun,” a chatbot in LINE instant messenger [ 33 ]. Direct comparison between our study with these studies were difficult because of differences in the study methods, sample characteristics, and outcome measures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy, Usability, and Acceptability of a Chatbot for Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination in Unvaccinated or Booster-Hesitant Young Adults: Pre-Post Pilot Study

Luk¹,

Lui²,

Wang³

2022

J Med Internet Res

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Background COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe disease and death but are underused. Interventions to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are paramount to reducing the burden of COVID-19. Objective We aimed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy, usability, and acceptability of a chatbot for promoting COVID-19 vaccination and examine the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Methods In November 2021, we conducted a pre-post pilot study to evaluate “Vac Chat, Fact Check,” a web-based chatbot for promoting COVID-19 vaccination. We conducted a web-based survey (N=290) on COVID-19 vaccination at a university in Hong Kong. A subset of 46 participants who were either unvaccinated (n=22) or were vaccinated but hesitant to receive boosters (n=24) were selected and given access to the chatbot for a 7-day trial period. The chatbot provided information about COVID-19 vaccination (eg, efficacy and common side effects), debunked common myths about the vaccine, and included a decision aid for selecting vaccine platforms (inactivated and mRNA vaccines). The main efficacy outcome was changes in the COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) score (range 9-45) from preintervention (web-based survey) to postintervention (immediately posttrial). Other efficacy outcomes included changes in intention to vaccinate or receive boosters and willingness to encourage others to vaccinate on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very). Usability was assessed by the System Usability Scale (range 0-100). Linear regression was used to examine the factors associated with COVID-19 VHS scores in all survey respondents. Results The mean (SD) age of all survey respondents was 21.4 (6.3) years, and 61% (177/290) of respondents were female. Higher eHealth literacy (B=–0.26; P<.001) and perceived danger of COVID-19 (B=–0.17; P=.009) were associated with lower COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, adjusting for age, sex, chronic disease status, previous flu vaccination, and perceived susceptibility to COVID-19. The main efficacy outcome of COVID-19 VHS score significantly decreased from 28.6 (preintervention) to 24.5 (postintervention), with a mean difference of –4.2 (P<.001) and an effect size (Cohen d) of 0.94. The intention to vaccinate increased from 3.0 to 3.9 (P<.001) in unvaccinated participants, whereas the intention to receive boosters increased from 1.9 to 2.8 (P<.001) in booster-hesitant participants. Willingness to encourage others to vaccinate increased from 2.7 to 3.0 (P=.04). At postintervention, the median (IQR) System Usability Scale score was 72.5 (65-77.5), whereas the median (IQR) recommendation score was 7 (6-8) on a scale from 0 to 10. In a post hoc 4-month follow-up, 82% (18/22) of initially unvaccinated participants reported having received the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas 29% (7/24) of booster-hesitant participants received boosters. Conclusions This pilot study provided initial evidence to support the efficacy, usability, and acceptability of a chatbot for promoting COVID-19 vaccination in young adults who were unvaccinated or booster-hesitant.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy, Usability, and Acceptability of a Chatbot for Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination in Unvaccinated or Booster-Hesitant Young Adults: Pre-Post Pilot Study

Luk¹,

Lui²,

Wang³

2022

J Med Internet Res

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“…Apps can be useful to affect COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, escape, and other related problems. In [44], a national experience performed in Japan is reported. The authors assessed an application (App) based on mTech.…”

Section: Example Of Mtech Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our study, it has been highlighted how mobile technology can be particularly helpful in this moment on this issue. It was highlighted how specific Apps can play an important role as a communication tool capable of allowing the dissemination of correct information, fighting the infodemic [44,45,47], and recalling citizens with calibrated messages [48].…”

Section: Highlightsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vaccination Process against the COVID-19: Opportunities, Problems and mHealth Support

Simeoni¹,

Maccioni

Giansanti

2021

Healthcare

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The vaccination against the COVID-19, finally available, has the potential to represent an important defence against the pandemic. The identification of both obstacles and tools to combat them are, at this moment, of strategic importance. Previous experiences on vaccinations have shown solutions and paths to take, also based on the behavioural sciences. The objective of the opinion is to face how mobile technology can help us both to fight these problems and to optimize the vaccination process. The opinion has four polarities. The first polarity consists in having detected the problems hampering an effective vaccination process. These problems have been grouped into the following four: Electronic and Informatic divide, Escape, Exposure risk, and Equity. The second polarity consists in having verified how the mobile technology can be useful to face the identified problems. The third polarity highlights the usefulness and importance of using electronic surveys. These tools are based on mobile technology. They are useful problem sensors for the stakeholders. The fourth polarity faces how mobile technology and mHealth can be of aid to optimize the flow of the vaccination process, from the first call up to the certification. This polarity is supported by an example based on the Italian national App IO. The study highlights: (a) on one side, the potential of mobile technology; on the other side, the need for interventions to reduce the digital divide with the purpose to increase its use. (b) How the role of mobile technology can be complementary to other intervention methods.

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Interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake: a scoping review

Andreas

Iannizzi

Bohndorf

et al. 2022

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

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Corowa-kun: Impact of a COVID-19 vaccine information chatbot on vaccine hesitancy, Japan 2021

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

Efficacy, Usability, and Acceptability of a Chatbot for Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination in Unvaccinated or Booster-Hesitant Young Adults: Pre-Post Pilot Study

Efficacy, Usability, and Acceptability of a Chatbot for Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination in Unvaccinated or Booster-Hesitant Young Adults: Pre-Post Pilot Study

The Vaccination Process against the COVID-19: Opportunities, Problems and mHealth Support

Interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake: a scoping review

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