AI Chatbot for Prostate Radiation Therapy Patient Education

NCT07719062 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 26-198
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate whether an artificial intelligence chatbot can help patients better understand radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer. Participants will be adults with prostate cancer who are planning definitive radiation therapy at Brigham and Women's Hospital. All participants will receive standard radiation therapy education and clinician-led discussions as part of routine care. In addition, participants will interact with an educational chatbot about prostate cancer radiation therapy. The chatbot is designed to provide plain-language information about treatment logistics, preparation, possible side effects, follow-up, and when to contact the care team. The chatbot will not provide diagnosis, treatment recommendations, individualized medical advice, or replace conversations with clinicians. Participants will complete questionnaires before and after using the chatbot. The study will measure changes in patient understanding, confidence in managing symptoms, usability of the chatbot, and safety-related concerns identified during clinician review of chatbot responses.

Conditions

Prostate Cancer Patients

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy for Managing Symptoms Score

  Baseline before chatbot interaction to immediately after chatbot interaction during the same study session

Study Arms (1)

AI Chatbot Educational Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete baseline questionnaires, interact with the LLM-based prostate radiation education chatbot, and then complete post-intervention questionnaires. The chatbot is used in addition to standard radiation therapy education and clinician-led discussions.

Other: AI Educational Chatbot

Interventions

AI Educational Chatbot OTHER

Participants will interact with an LLM-based educational chatbot focused on prostate cancer radiation therapy. The chatbot provides plain-language information about treatment logistics, preparation, expected follow-up, possible urinary, bowel, sexual, and hormonal side effects, symptom monitoring, and when to contact the care team. The chatbot is used as an adjunct to standard radiation therapy education and clinician-led discussions. The chatbot is based on ChatGPT 5.2 deployed within a secure Mass General Brigham Azure environment and configured with physician-reviewed educational source materials and safety guardrails. It is designed to provide educational information only and does not diagnose, recommend treatment choices, provide individualized medical advice, or alter clinical management. Participant interactions will not be used to train, fine-tune, or update the underlying foundation model.

AI Chatbot Educational Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or older
• Current diagnosis of prostate cancer
• Planning to receive definitive prostate cancer radiation therapy at Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology
• English-speaking
• Ability to understand and willingness to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Adults unable to consent independently
• Individuals who are not yet adults
• Prisoners

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Brigham and Women's Hospital: lead

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Radiation Oncology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 17, 2026
• First Posted: July 22, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share