The Impact of a Web-based Psychoeducation Programme With a Motivational AI Chatbot on Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

The Impact of a Web-based Psychoeducation Programme With a Motivational AI Chatbot on Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

[AI-driven Vaccine Communicator: The Impact of a Web-based Psychoeducation Programme With a Motivational AI-based Digital Assistant on Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Hong Kong's Population

Vaccine hesitancy is defined as 'delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines, despite the availability of vaccine service' and was named one of the top ten global health threats by the World Health Organization in 2019. Our proposed study will aim to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a Web-based psychoeducation programme to address Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, 'AI-driven Vaccine Communicator' (including educational materials, animations of vaccine research and development, and an MI communication skills-based AI, digital assistant). Our goal is to standardise our intervention so that it can serve as an effective toolkit for clinicians/healthcare providers to increase Hong Kong residents' motivation to vaccinate and to ensure that the programme can be adapted to viral mutations and newly developed vaccines in the medium/long term.

This study is a two-arm, single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial, and it will be adopted to evaluate the efficacy of the 'AI-driven Vaccine Communicator' relative to being self-informed about Covid-19 vaccines. Also, to address the widespread hesitancy among Hong Kong residents toward Covid-19 vaccines, we will develop a Web-based psychoeducation programme, 'AI-driven Vaccine Communicator,' driven by artificial intelligence (AI) techniques based on the Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix Model and MI communication skills and concepts (theoretical underpinnings). After developing and piloting this programme, we will test its effectiveness among members of the population who are hesitant about Covid-19 vaccines. The programme will then be refined further and standardised to use the most relevant information and effective communication skills to promote acceptance of Covid-19 vaccines among a wider Hong Kong population. Clinicians and healthcare providers will be able to utilise our programme as a toolkit in their usual practice when working with clients who are hesitant about Covid-19 vaccines.

We aim to have two study group, including the AI-driven vaccine communicator intervention group and the self-learning of COVID-19 vaccine knowledge control group.

The intervention will include six modules web-based psychoeducation programme (two modules sessions weekly, each module lasts for 15-20 minutes) which includes educational materials, animations of vaccine research and development, and an MI communication skills-based AI, digital assistant.

Participants in the control group will be given HK government websites in COVID-19 vaccine and invite to join the online examination in relation to Covid-19 vaccine knowledge.

The intervention will include six modules web-based psychoeducation programme (two module sessions weekly, each module lasts for 15-20 minutes). And the content of the intervention includes six modules sessions, including Module 1- What is COVID-19, Module 2- Basic knowledge of vaccine; Module 3- Risk and benefit; Module 4- Fear & myth; Module 5- Vaccine policy; Module 6- Review the intervention and end the programme. Also with an MI communication skills-based AI, digital assistant.

Participants in the control group will be given HK government websites in COVID-19 vaccine and invite to join the online examination in relation to Covid-19 vaccine knowledge (using multiple choices questions similar to the intervention group), and this is to ensure that participants from the control group also use time to search relevant information of covid-19 vaccines, also this is to control the time effects.

Inclusion Criteria: 18 years old; Hong Kong residents; Show hesitancy toward Covid-19 vaccines; Participants will be defined as covid-19 vaccine-hesitant if they meet one of the following conditions: 1) no plan for a date to receive the available Covid-19 vaccines either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd dose,46, or; 2) completed three doses of covid-19 vaccines not based on their willingness and are hesitant for future 4th or regular vaccines Exclusion Criteria: People with self-reported cognitive impairments or mental disorders that might interfere with their understanding of the intervention content; People who currently engaged in another clinical trial in relation to Covid-19 vaccines.

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