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Motibot: the Virtual Coach for healthy coping intervention in diabetes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

G. Bassi ,
C. Giuliano ,
A. Perinelli ,
S. Forti ,
S. Gabrielli ,
E. Mancinelli  and
S. Salcuni
G. Bassi*
Affiliation:
University of Padova, Department Of Developmental And Socialization Psychology, Padova, Italy Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Digital Health Lab, Trento, Italy
C. Giuliano
Affiliation:
Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Digital Health Lab, Trento, Italy
A. Perinelli
Affiliation:
Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Digital Health Lab, Trento, Italy
S. Forti
Affiliation:
Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Digital Health Lab, Trento, Italy
S. Gabrielli
Affiliation:
Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Digital Health Lab, Trento, Italy
E. Mancinelli
Affiliation:
University of Padova, Department Of Developmental And Socialization Psychology, Padova, Italy Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Digital Health Lab, Trento, Italy
S. Salcuni
Affiliation:
University of Padova, Department Of Developmental And Socialization Psychology, Padova, Italy
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Virtual coaches (VCs) can support people with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) by motivating them to better manage their health. Few VCs were aimed at providing psychosocial support. In this regard, motivation is a pivotal construct in diabetes self-management as it allows adults with DM to adhere to the clinical recommendations.

Objectives

The present study aimed to develop a VC able to motivate adults with DM to adopt and acquire healthier coping strategies, to decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and diabetes-related emotional distress, while also improving their well-being.

Methods

A total of 12 adults with DM (M=27.91 years; SD=9.82) interacted with a VC, called Motibot using Telegram for an overall duration of 12 sessions. Participants completed a battery of instruments at pre-, post-intervention and follow-up.

Results

highlighted a decrease in anxiety, and depression symptoms between pre-, post-intervention and follow-up, as also showed by the results that emerged through the text mining. Motibot was perceived as motivating and encouraging in the adoption of appropriate coping strategies, such as mindfulness practices. Motibot was also perceived as trustworthy, reflective, and stimulating in its dialogical interaction. Indeed, adults felt involved in the interaction with Motibot, thereby showing an overall perception of a better quality of life, in the absence of diabetes distress.

Conclusions

This study sheds light on the importance of VCs in health care for people with DM for psychosocial support. This is the first experimental study on the matter, and thus, further iterations of the intervention are needed using a larger sample size.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

virtual coachhealthy copingdiabetes mellitusdiabetes distress
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S171
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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