A sample of 51 young adults who had completed cancer treatment within the past five years were randomized to either engage with Vivibot for a month or, in the control group, to simply rate their feelings for a month. Researchers at Hopelab and Northwestern University conducted a randomized controlled study to assess how users are engaging with Vivibot, and whether engagement would lead to improvements in mood.
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Young people who have undergone cancer treatment, as well as their friends and family, can access the chatbot any time free of cost on the GRYT mobile or desktop app to get immediate support. Vivibot's skill-based content is based on a well-validated model developed by psychologists at Northwestern University and consists of positive emotion and coping skills like expressing gratitude, practicing mindfulness, setting attainable goals, and identifying the positive aspects of tough situations. Vivibot delivers a new skill every day for a month, using a mix of interactive chatting, mood reports, and videos featuring young people who have had a cancer diagnosis sharing their real-life experiences with these approaches. The Hopelab team worked closely with young adult cancer survivors to ensure that the positive psychology skills Vivibot delivers would be reflective of their experience. "The result is a first of its kind, chatbot-based support product that survivors really respond to, and, as the data shows, is addressing unmet mental health needs." Plus, we wanted to deliver the tool in a format that would be widely accessible, available 24/7, and have a non-judgemental tone." said Danielle Ramo, PhD, Research Director at Hopelab. "By building a multi-faceted team made up of young people living with cancer, deep subject matter experts, behavioral scientists, and product designers, we were able to develop a tool that merged evidence-based strategies with a relatable voice that felt authentic and meaningful to young adults who have undergone cancer treatment. Interventions based on positive psychology have led to improved emotional well-being outcomes in several clinical populations however, until Vivibot, no intervention to improve positive emotions had focused specifically on young cancer survivors, nor had they been designed for delivery using chatbot technology. complete cancer treatment each year, and many of these survivors experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder in the months following treatment. Vivibot, the First Chatbot Designed for Teen and Young Adult Cancer Survivors, Can Improve Mental Well-being of Users