Transforming motivational interviewing into a computable model for automated patient diabetic counseling.

Summary

This project aims to develop a computable model for motivational interviewing (MI) and integrate it into a speech-based software agent, named "TROI," to provide automated counseling for diabetic patients on health behaviors like sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and physical activity.

What they want

The project involves developing comprehensive ontology models for motivational interviewing specifically for diabetic-related behavior counseling. This will include conducting simulations of MI counseling to analyze and translate the method into a computer-based ontology model. The developed model will then be integrated into the "TROI" software agent. The final phase includes evaluating the automated counseling experience by recruiting MI experts to assess the integrity of the MI counseling provided by the agent and recruiting diabetic patients to assess their receptiveness to the tool.

Deliverables

Comprehensive ontology models for motivational interviewing for diabetic-related behavior
A computer-based model (ontology) translated from MI counseling simulations
A software agent ("TROI") integrating the MI ontology model
Evaluation results from MI experts on counseling integrity
Evaluation results from diabetic patients on tool receptiveness

Technical requirements

Speech interfaces in devices
Intelligence-based dialogue methods
Ontology models (knowledge base for machine interaction)
Computer-based modeling of motivational interviewing
Software agent development

Key personnel

Motivational interviewing experts
End users who have diabetes or pre-diabetes

How they evaluate

Assessment by motivational interviewing experts on the integrity of MI counseling performed by the software agent
Assessment by diabetic patients on their receptiveness and usability of the "TROI" tool

Market context

inferred from NAICS

R&D in Physical, Engineering, Life Sciences (except Nanotech & Biotech)

NAICS 541715

US market size: $95B
Typical award: $100K – $50M+

Typical buyers

DoDNSFNIHNASADOE

Commonly required

DCAA-compliant accountingITARCMMC L2