SAFE.AI: Developing and Testing an AI-based Hybrid Chatbot for Financial Empowerment in Rural Cancer Care

Part of paid clinical trials in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sponsor
University of Utah
Study ID
NCT07410689
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Cancer
  • Financial Toxicity

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Rule-Based Chatbot — OTHER
    The rule-based (scripted) SAFE.ai chatbot is a guided conversational tool built to provide structured, accurate, and consistent information to rural cancer patients and caregivers experiencing cancer-related financial toxicity. This chatbot is grounded in the Self-Advocacy for Financial Empowerment (SAFE) resource toolkit, which was co-developed with a community advisory board (CAB) composed of rural patients, caregivers, nurses, and financial navigation experts across HCI's five-state catchment area. All scripted responses reflect priorities identified during qualitative needs assessment sessions, ensuring that content is culturally aligned with rural patient experiences and real-world financial challenges. The chatbot follows a rule-based decision tree. Users progress through the conversation by selecting a response from a set of fixed options displayed on-screen. This ensures that all content is clinically vetted, safe, consistent, and aligned with evidence-based practices.
  • Hybrid Chatbot — OTHER
    The hybrid SAFE.ai chatbot builds on the existing rule-based system by integrating a large language model (LLM) layer to support more flexible, open-ended, and conversational interactions. While the rule-based chatbot provides structured conversations through predefined content, the hybrid approach allows users to ask complex or personalized questions about financial toxicity. To ensure safety and accuracy, the hybrid chatbot is not allowed to generate responses from the open internet. By combining the consistency of rule-based logic with the adaptability of an LLM, the hybrid chatbot will enable users to ask follow-up questions, describe nuanced financial situations, request clarification in their own words, and receive more tailored guidance while still ensuring adherence to SAFE content.

Study Details

This is a randomized, two-arm, parallel-group pilot trial investigating a new chatbot tool designed to support cancer patients and caregivers, particularly those in rural communities. Approximately 60 participants will be randomized 1:1 to interact with either a hybrid chatbot or an AI-enabled chatbot. Participants will use their assigned chatbot to obtain clear and helpful information related to insurance, travel costs, and other financial aspects of cancer care.

Key Dates

Start date
Jun 30, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2027
Completion
Dec 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Other: Rule-based Chatbot
    Participants randomized to this arm will be asked to use the rule-based chatbot.
  • Other: Hybrid Chatbot
    Participants randomized to this arm will be asked to use the hybrid chatbot

Primary Outcome Measure

Single-Item Helpfulness Rating [ Time Frame: up to 2 weeks ]

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Huntsman Cancer Institute/ University of UtahSalt Lake CityUtah84112
Djin Tay, PhD, RN
[email protected]
801-646-6440
Djin Tay, PhD, RN (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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By research site
Huntsman Cancer Institute/ University of Utah· Salt Lake City, UT

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