Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention

• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12129-1
• Publication Date: 2021-11-20T12:02:43Z
• Authors: 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-Tyszkie...; P. C. Diedrichs
• Keywords: Chatbot

Abstract Background Body image concerns are prevalent among Brazilian adolescents and can lead to poor psychological physical health. Yet, there is a scarcity of culturally-appropriate, evidence-based interventions that have been evaluated made widely available. Chatbot technology (i.e., software mimics written or spoken human speech) offers an innovative method increase the scalability mental health for adolescents. The present protocol outlines co-creation evaluation body chatbot via partnership between academics, industry organisations United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Methods A two-armed fully remote randomised controlled trial will evaluate chatbot’s effectiveness at improving well-being. Adolescent girls boys ( N = 2800) aged 13–18 years recruited online be randomly allocated (1:1) into either: 1) 2) assessment-only control condition. Adolescents engage with over 72-hour period on Facebook Messenger . Primary outcomes assess immediate short-term impact state- trait-based image, respectively. Secondary include affect, trait self-efficacy treatment adherence. Discussion This research first develop evidence-informed adolescents, proposed efficacy aiming provide support accessible, scalable cost-effective address disparities in prevalence readily available resources. Trial registration number NCT04825184 , registered 30th March 2021.