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A Feasibility and Acceptability Study of a Large Language Model-based Chatbot for Brief Alcohol Intervention Among Emerging Adults
Sponsor: 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.
Official title: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study of a Large Language Model-based Conversational Agent for Brief Alcohol Intervention Among Emerging Adults
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 29 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
20
Start Date
2027-06-01
Completion Date
2028-08-31
Last Updated
2025-10-22
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Large 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.
Locations (1)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States