Effectiveness of Using a Chatbot to Promote Adherence to Home Physiotherapy

Herramienta De Procesamiento De Lenguaje Natural En Dispositivo Móvil Inteligente Para Fomentar La Adherencia a La Rehabilitación Domiciliaria

A Chatbot oriented to virtually assist patients in a physiotherapy treatment has been designed and developed to interact with patients with musculoskeletal disorders in need for domiciliary rehabilitation. The tool has been designed to promote adherence to rehabilitation, what in turn may have an impact on clinical outcome. A randomized clinical trial involving patients undergoing total knee replacement has bee designed to determine the applicability of the proposal. The participants will be assigned into exerimental group (intervention with the software tool) or control group (standard care).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals on the waiting list for total knee replacement surgery
• Undergoing primary total knee replacement surgery
• Who have a personal smartphone
• Who have an instant messaging application installed
• Familiar with the use of such application (more than 3 accesses per week),

Exclusion Criteria:

• Evident cognitive state that prevents to understand care provider instructions
• Vestibular or central nervous system affection (e.g. stroke)
• Cannot read or write
• Do not understand Spanish language
• Not able to consent to participate