Adapting the Penny Chatbot for Perinatal Opioid Use Disorder Patients: COPILOT

What this Trial Is About

The opioid epidemic in the US affects women of childbearing age, with a significant increase in opioid use disorder (OUD) among women giving birth. This research aims to adapt a texting support chatbot, Penny, to better support pregnant and postpartum women dealing with OUD. The adapted chatbot, Penny COPILOT, is designed to reduce loneliness, improve engagement in perinatal and OUD care, and address challenges like limited access to in-person visits and social isolation during the perinatal period. The study uses a single-arm design to assess the acceptability and feasibility of Penny COPILOT, which is an interactive SMS program providing educational and support messages tailored for postpartum individuals with OUD. The chatbot enables two-way messaging and sends content relevant to OUD recovery at specific postpartum intervals. The study includes three main phases: a needs assessment with interviews, pretesting with 10 patients to refine the chatbot and ensure safety, and a pilot test with 20 patients to evaluate user satisfaction and feasibility. Participants will engage with the chatbot and complete assessments during the pilot phase, including surveys and electronic medical record reviews to measure loneliness, social isolation, opioid use, mental health, and healthcare engagement. The primary outcome is measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale at baseline and 3 months follow-up. The study also collects data on opioid use through questionnaires. The total study duration includes these phases and follow-up assessments to evaluate the chatbot’s impact and user experience.

Adapting the Penny Chatbot for Perinatal OUD Patients: COPILOT