User needs and design opportunities for a conversational agent for tuberculosis treatment: A mixed-methods study
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Integrated Design, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- 2Department of Integrated Design, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- 3Department of Convergence Design, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea
- 4Department of Healthcare Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- 5Institute for Innovation in Digital Healthcare, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge requiring prolonged treatment that is often complicated by adverse drug reactions (ADRs), stigma, and poor treatment adherence. Although digital health interventions show promise in supporting TB care, patients’ needs, expectations, and design requirements for conversational agents remain poorly understood. This study identified challenges experienced by healthcare professionals and patients with TB and explored opportunities for designing a user-centered conversational agent for TB care. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, comprising surveys of 107 healthcare professionals and 31 patients with TB, followed by in-depth interviews with 10 patients. The survey assessed treatment challenges, adherence barriers, and digital health needs. The interview data explored participants’ treatment experiences and expectations for conversational agent–based support. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Healthcare professionals reported ADR (25.1%), multidrug-resistant TB (17.1%), drug interaction management (15.6%), and low treatment adherence (15.6%) as key challenges. Patients’ needs focused on ADR consultation (35%), TB information (21.7%), and diagnostics (20%). The majority wanted to use mHealth (62.1%), with specific interests in side effect guidance (20.4%), self-diagnosis (13%), and treatment information (12.5%). The interviews revealed patients’ multifaceted needs related to TB treatment, including consistent communication with healthcare providers, effective ADR management, accurate and accessible TB information, social and psychological support during treatment, usable and accessible digital health solutions, and affordable services. These findings identified key design opportunities, including TB awareness, timely and personalized information, treatment adherence support, transparent treatment progress, psychosocial support, accessible digital services, and affordability. Healthcare professionals and patients reported unmet needs that conversational agents could potentially address. These findings provide user-centered guidance for developing conversational agents and contribute to evidence on digital health interventions for TB treatment support. Author summary: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment can be difficult to complete because it is prolonged and often involves side effects, uncertainty, stigma, and limited opportunities to ask questions during clinic visits. Digital tools such as conversational agents can help patients manage treatment; however, few studies have examined what patients and healthcare professionals need from such tools in TB care. In this mixed-methods study, we surveyed 107 healthcare professionals and 31 patients with TB and interviewed 10 patients in South Korea to identify barriers to use, unmet needs, and design priorities for a user-centered conversational agent supporting TB care (hereafter, anti-TB conversational agent). Healthcare professionals highlighted adverse drug reactions (ADRs), adherence-related challenges, multidrug-resistant TB, and drug interaction management as major concerns. Patients emphasized the need for rapid guidance regarding ADRs, clearer TB information, easier communication with providers, and emotional support during treatment. Patients preferred solutions that were user-friendly, affordable, and integrated into familiar platforms. Accordingly, we identified key design priorities, including early detection and TB awareness, timely and customized information access, personalized support for treatment adherence, transparency in treatment progress, psychosocial and technological support, and treatment affordability. These findings can guide the development and future evaluation of user-centered conversational agents for TB treatment-adherence support.
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BibTeX
@article{baek2026user,
title = {{User needs and design opportunities for a conversational agent for tuberculosis treatment: A mixed-methods study}},
author = {Joon Sang Baek and Sehwa Choi and Seojin Sung and Vasuki Rajaguru and Youngmok Park},
journal = {PLOS Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pdig.0001720},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0001720},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - User needs and design opportunities for a conversational agent for tuberculosis treatment: A mixed-methods study
AU - Joon Sang Baek
AU - Sehwa Choi
AU - Seojin Sung
AU - Vasuki Rajaguru
AU - Youngmok Park
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
JO - PLOS Digital Health
DO - 10.1371/journal.pdig.0001720
UR - https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0001720
AB - Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge requiring prolonged treatment that is often complicated by adverse drug reactions (ADRs), stigma, and poor treatment adherence. Although digital health interventions show promise in supporting TB care, patients’ needs, expectations, and design requirements for conversational agents remain poorly understood. This study identified challenges experienced by healthcare professionals and patients with TB and explored opportunities for designing a user-centered conversational agent for TB care. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, comprising surveys of 107 healthcare professionals and 31 patients with TB, followed by in-depth interviews with 10 patients. The survey assessed treatment challenges, adherence barriers, and digital health needs. The interview data explored participants’ treatment experiences and expectations for conversational agent–based support. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Healthcare professionals reported ADR (25.1%), multidrug-resistant TB (17.1%), drug interaction management (15.6%), and low treatment adherence (15.6%) as key challenges. Patients’ needs focused on ADR consultation (35%), TB information (21.7%), and diagnostics (20%). The majority wanted to use mHealth (62.1%), with specific interests in side effect guidance (20.4%), self-diagnosis (13%), and treatment information (12.5%). The interviews revealed patients’ multifaceted needs related to TB treatment, including consistent communication with healthcare providers, effective ADR management, accurate and accessible TB information, social and psychological support during treatment, usable and accessible digital health solutions, and affordable services. These findings identified key design opportunities, including TB awareness, timely and personalized information, treatment adherence support, transparent treatment progress, psychosocial support, accessible digital services, and affordability. Healthcare professionals and patients reported unmet needs that conversational agents could potentially address. These findings provide user-centered guidance for developing conversational agents and contribute to evidence on digital health interventions for TB treatment support. Author summary: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment can be difficult to complete because it is prolonged and often involves side effects, uncertainty, stigma, and limited opportunities to ask questions during clinic visits. Digital tools such as conversational agents can help patients manage treatment; however, few studies have examined what patients and healthcare professionals need from such tools in TB care. In this mixed-methods study, we surveyed 107 healthcare professionals and 31 patients with TB and interviewed 10 patients in South Korea to identify barriers to use, unmet needs, and design priorities for a user-centered conversational agent supporting TB care (hereafter, anti-TB conversational agent). Healthcare professionals highlighted adverse drug reactions (ADRs), adherence-related challenges, multidrug-resistant TB, and drug interaction management as major concerns. Patients emphasized the need for rapid guidance regarding ADRs, clearer TB information, easier communication with providers, and emotional support during treatment. Patients preferred solutions that were user-friendly, affordable, and integrated into familiar platforms. Accordingly, we identified key design priorities, including early detection and TB awareness, timely and customized information access, personalized support for treatment adherence, transparency in treatment progress, psychosocial and technological support, and treatment affordability. These findings can guide the development and future evaluation of user-centered conversational agents for TB treatment-adherence support.
SN - 2767-3170
ER -