Perceptions about the use of virtual assistants for seeking health information among caregivers of young childhood cancer survivors.
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OBJECTIVES: This study examined the perceptions of caregivers of young childhood cancer survivors (YCCS) regarding the use of virtual assistant (VA) technology for health information seeking and care management. The study aim was to understand how VAs can support caregivers, especially those from underserved communities, in navigating health information related to cancer survivorship. METHODS: A qualitative study design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 10 caregivers of YCCS from metropolitan, rural, and Appalachian regions, recruited from a large pediatric academic medical center in the Midwest. A web-based VA prototype was tested with caregivers, who provided feedback on its usability, utility, and feasibility. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes related to caregivers' interactions with and perceptions of the VA technology. RESULTS: We identified four major themes: Interface and Interaction, User Experience, Content Relevance, and Trust. Caregivers expressed preferences for multimodal interactions (voice and text), particularly valuing flexibility based on context. They emphasized the need for accurate, relevant, and easily retrievable health information tailored to their child's needs. Trust and confidentiality were critical, with caregivers favoring VAs integrated with trusted healthcare systems. While VAs were perceived as valuable tools for reducing search fatigue and cognitive burden, caregivers highlighted the need for improved conversational depth, personalization, and empathetic response. CONCLUSIONS: VAs hold promise as support tools for caregivers of YCCS, particularly in underserved communities, by offering personalized, credible, and accessible health information. To maximize their potential, research and development efforts should focus on building trust-building, integrated, and personalized VAs. These enhancements can help VAs further ease caregiving tasks and support caregivers in managing complex health needs.