Below Your Belt L3C — Department of Health and Human Services STTR Phase I: NICHD

Description

ABSTRACT More thanmillion women suffer from pelvic health disordersPHDsin the United Statesa number that is projected to nearly double byThese conditions cost the healthcare system billions annually and negatively affect educational and employment opportunitiesquality of lifeand fertility of patientsWhile studies suggest that PHDs can be managed and improved with educationpractitioners are often confronted with patients who delay seeking treatment until their symptoms and conditions are advancedBelow Your BeltBYBis developing a platform that disrupts the costlypainfuland stigmatizing cycle of poor pelvic health in the U SThe platform is a mobileweb baseda consumer facing chatbotwith a working name of CeCethat delivers pelvic health information in a familiaraccessible mannerCeCe will engage Mom with interactive and medically accurate contentpositioning her to become the central source of information for her family and her social networkBYB has developed and tested a functional prototype of CeCewhich is based on feedback received from hundreds of women surveyedIn Phase IBYBtogether with Northwestern University and a highly qualified team of consultants will optimize CeCe and test the feasibility and acceptability of a chatbot to deliver pelvic health informationIn AimThe current prototype will be examined and enhanced to a web based platformSimultaneouslyverified conversational and educational material will be added to the existing content to make it more robustThena round of usability testing will be conductedUpdates to content and functionality will be completed based on initial usability resultsand if any issues are uncoveredthey will be addressed before the start of AimIn AimNorthwestern University will conduct a larger usability and knowledge gained study withwomenrecruitment target oflow income womenQuestionnaires will be used to ascertain whether participants had measurable increase in knowledge after completing the two week interaction with CeCe and to assess ease of use acceptanceExit interviews will be conducted to gain qualitative data around ease of useinterest in CeCecontent preferencesperceptions of achievement in relation to increased awareness of pelvic health and confidence or comfort sharing pelvic health informationAt the conclusion of Phase IBYB will have successfully demonstrated that CeCe s final prototype is an acceptable and feasible model for increasing pelvic health knowledgeIn additionBYB will have a complete assessment of CeCe s acceptability and insight into participantsday experience with the chatbotand an understanding of whether a mom might feel confident or comfortable sharing any information she has learned NARRATIVE Overmillion women suffer from pelvic health disorders in the U Sprojected to nearly double bywhich negatively affects their physicalemotional and intimate well being and costs the healthcare system billions annuallyPractitioners often see patients who delay seeking treatment until their symptoms and conditions are advancedBelow Your BeltBYBis developing a mobileweb based chatbot to deliver pelvic health information in a familiaraccessible manner with a goal of disrupting the costlypainfuland stigmatizing cycle of poor pelvic health