Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention
Abstract Background Body image concerns are prevalent among Brazilian adolescents and can lead to poor psychological and physical health. Yet, there is a scarcity of culturally-appropriate, evidence-based interventions that have been evaluated and made widely available. Chatbot technology (i.e., sof...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12129-1 |
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| author | E. L. Matheson H. G. Smith A. C. S. Amaral J. F. F. Meireles M. C. Almeida G. Mora C. Leon G. Gertner N. Ferrario L. Suarez Battan J. Linardon M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz P. C. Diedrichs |
| author_facet | E. L. Matheson H. G. Smith A. C. S. Amaral J. F. F. Meireles M. C. Almeida G. Mora C. Leon G. Gertner N. Ferrario L. Suarez Battan J. Linardon M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz P. C. Diedrichs |
| author_sort | E. L. Matheson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Body image concerns are prevalent among Brazilian adolescents and can lead to poor psychological and physical health. Yet, there is a scarcity of culturally-appropriate, evidence-based interventions that have been evaluated and made widely available. Chatbot technology (i.e., software that mimics written or spoken human speech) offers an innovative method to increase the scalability of mental health interventions for adolescents. The present protocol outlines the co-creation and evaluation of a body image chatbot for Brazilian adolescents via a partnership between academics, industry organisations and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Methods A two-armed fully remote randomised controlled trial will evaluate the chatbot’s effectiveness at improving body image and well-being. Adolescent girls and boys (N = 2800) aged 13–18 years recruited online will be randomly allocated (1:1) into either: 1) a body image chatbot or 2) an assessment-only control condition. Adolescents will engage with the chatbot over a 72-hour period on Facebook Messenger. Primary outcomes will assess the immediate and short-term impact of the chatbot on state- and trait-based body image, respectively. Secondary outcomes will include state- and trait-based affect, trait self-efficacy and treatment adherence. Discussion This research is the first to develop an evidence-informed body image chatbot for Brazilian adolescents, with the proposed efficacy trial aiming to provide support for accessible, scalable and cost-effective interventions that address disparities in body image prevalence and readily available resources. Trial registration number NCT04825184 , registered 30th March 2021. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:22:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-175dd5272dae4b8385324553a7bb0ba9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:22:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-175dd5272dae4b8385324553a7bb0ba92022-12-21T22:59:53ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-11-0121111410.1186/s12889-021-12129-1Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot interventionE. L. Matheson0H. G. Smith1A. C. S. Amaral2J. F. F. Meireles3M. C. Almeida4G. Mora5C. Leon6G. Gertner7N. Ferrario8L. Suarez Battan9J. Linardon10M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz11P. C. Diedrichs12Centre for Appearance Research, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour LaneCentre for Appearance Research, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour LaneFederal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeast of Minas GeraisDepartment of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Kennesaw State UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São PauloUNICEF Brasília, Office of the Representative of UNICEF in BrazilUNICEF Brasília, Office of the Representative of UNICEF in BrazilTalk2U LLCTalk2U LLCTalk2U LLCSchool of Psychology, Deakin UniversitySchool of Psychology, Deakin UniversityCentre for Appearance Research, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour LaneAbstract Background Body image concerns are prevalent among Brazilian adolescents and can lead to poor psychological and physical health. Yet, there is a scarcity of culturally-appropriate, evidence-based interventions that have been evaluated and made widely available. Chatbot technology (i.e., software that mimics written or spoken human speech) offers an innovative method to increase the scalability of mental health interventions for adolescents. The present protocol outlines the co-creation and evaluation of a body image chatbot for Brazilian adolescents via a partnership between academics, industry organisations and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Methods A two-armed fully remote randomised controlled trial will evaluate the chatbot’s effectiveness at improving body image and well-being. Adolescent girls and boys (N = 2800) aged 13–18 years recruited online will be randomly allocated (1:1) into either: 1) a body image chatbot or 2) an assessment-only control condition. Adolescents will engage with the chatbot over a 72-hour period on Facebook Messenger. Primary outcomes will assess the immediate and short-term impact of the chatbot on state- and trait-based body image, respectively. Secondary outcomes will include state- and trait-based affect, trait self-efficacy and treatment adherence. Discussion This research is the first to develop an evidence-informed body image chatbot for Brazilian adolescents, with the proposed efficacy trial aiming to provide support for accessible, scalable and cost-effective interventions that address disparities in body image prevalence and readily available resources. Trial registration number NCT04825184 , registered 30th March 2021.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12129-1AdolescentBody imageMental healthChatbotMicro-interventionBrazil |
| spellingShingle | E. L. Matheson H. G. Smith A. C. S. Amaral J. F. F. Meireles M. C. Almeida G. Mora C. Leon G. Gertner N. Ferrario L. Suarez Battan J. Linardon M. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz P. C. Diedrichs Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention BMC Public Health Adolescent Body image Mental health Chatbot Micro-intervention Brazil |
| title | Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention |
| title_full | Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention |
| title_fullStr | Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention |
| title_short | Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention |
| title_sort | improving body image at scale among brazilian adolescents study protocol for the co creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention |
| topic | Adolescent Body image Mental health Chatbot Micro-intervention Brazil |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12129-1 |
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