Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of an Artificial-Intelligence-Enabled and Speech-Based Distress Screening Mobile App for Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed with Cancer: A Study Protocol

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer are an age-defined population, with studies reporting up to 45% of the population experiencing psychological distress. Although it is essential to screen and monitor for psychological distress throughout AYAs’ cancer journeys, many cancer centers fail to effectively implement distress screening protocols largely due to busy clinical workflow and survey fatigue. Recent advances in mobile technology and speech science have enabled flexible and engaging methods to monitor psychological distress. However, patient-centered research focusing on these methods’ feasibility and acceptability remains lacking. Therefore, in this project, we aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled and speech-based mobile application to monitor psychological distress among AYAs diagnosed with cancer. We use a single-arm prospective cohort design with a stratified sampling strategy. We aim to recruit 60 AYAs diagnosed with cancer and to monitor their psychological distress using an AI-enabled speech-based distress monitoring tool over a 6 month period. The primary feasibility endpoint of this study is defined by the number of participants completing four out of six monthly distress assessments, and the acceptability endpoint is defined both quantitatively using the acceptability of intervention measure and qualitatively using semi-structured interviews.

Promise and Perils of Large Language Models for Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care

“…A few studies are beginning to ask important questions about overall acceptability of such advances including use of AI platforms to monitor distress. 43 Patient engagement also requires aligning goals so that their health data are not exploited for the financial gain of developers and institutions while patients continue to face escalating cancer costs. Nefarious use and those not aligned with patient needs and wellbeing need to be anticipated.…”

“…A few studies are beginning to ask important questions about overall acceptability of such advances including use of AI platforms to monitor distress. 43…”

New Frontiers in Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Psycho-Oncology Survivorship Care

“…The hope is that through greater collaborations with technology companies, greater efficiencies may be built into the clinical workforce and more artificial intelligences can be built into program design. In this way, standardized programs may still be individualized if rules and logic are able to construct a psychological package that matches to the individual’s personal profile [ 21 ]. This is a leap from traditional manualized interventions that are offered as a one size fits all model.…”

Evaluating the Feasibility of a Multiplayer Role-Playing Game as a Behavioral Health Intervention in Adolescent Patients With Chronic Physical or Mental Conditions: Protocol for a Cohort Study

“…With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation has become an even more critical problem, preventing adolescents with CPMCs from socializing not only with their peers but also with family members and other members of their support networks [13][14][15]. A number of mobile apps and web-based interventions have emerged to help patients with CPMCs to deal with stress [16], social isolation [17,18], anxiety [19], depression [19,20], symptom burden [16], and disease management [21,22]. Although numerous studies have shown a positive impact of these apps [16][17][18][20][21][22], none of the app-based interventions that we reviewed had social elements that would allow patients to interact with their peers or members of their support networks.…”

“…A number of mobile apps and web-based interventions have emerged to help patients with CPMCs to deal with stress [16], social isolation [17,18], anxiety [19], depression [19,20], symptom burden [16], and disease management [21,22]. Although numerous studies have shown a positive impact of these apps [16][17][18][20][21][22], none of the app-based interventions that we reviewed had social elements that would allow patients to interact with their peers or members of their support networks. Moreover, we were unable to find the majority of the apps described in the reviewed studies on publicly available app stores such as Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Steam, suggesting that the apps used as part of research studies either were not available to the general public or did not have long-term support from the developers.…”