A Bedside Relational Agent to Improve Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes in Cancer Patients

Abstract Deliriuma major cause of fallscan occur in as many asof cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplantationresulting in up totimes greater chance of dyingDelirium risk can be mitigated and many other outcomes of stem cell transplants can be improved through behavioral interventions delivered at the bedside through conversationimageryand audioHowevertraditional means of delivering these interventions are very labor intensivedifficult to quality controland difficult to cost effectively scale to many patientsIn this SBIR Fast Track proposalwe seek to develop a technology enabled bedside digital relational agent specifically programmed to enhance the well beingsafetyand outcomes of cancer patients undergoing inpatient stem cell transplantationby supporting them through protocols in the following eight categoriesDiet andampHydrationPhysical ExerciseIncentive SpirometryOrientationNon Pharmacological Pain andampAnxiety ManagementPsychosocial Support andampStaff CommunicationSleepand Toileting AssistanceWe will then conduct a three year clinical studydeploying this new intervention to overadult patients across two oncology hematology unitsaiming to observecompared to a randomized control groupstatistically significant reductions in length of stayincident delirium ratefall rateanxietydepressionand lonelinesswith improved overall patient satisfaction and rate of immune system recovery post transplantThis proposal addresses the major National Cancer Institute portfolio areas ofTechnologies for Cancer ControlBehavioral Health InterventionsandDigital HealthMobile Health and Health Information TechnologyNarrative Deliriuma major cause of fallscan occur in as many asof cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplantresulting in up totimes greater chance of dyingDelirium risk can be mitigated and many other outcomes of stem cell transplants can be improved through behavioral interventions delivered at the bedside through conversationimageryand audiocare coachis developing a technology enabled cancer care platform that providesxproactive bedside support for patients undergoing stem cell transplantsto mitigate delirium and falls while improving recovery through better adherence to dietexerciseand other best practicesin a scalablecost effective manner