Transforming Chemotherapy Support: An Interactive Chatbot That Boosts Discipline and Satisfaction in Colorectal Cancer Patients in Makassar

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer patients frequently struggled with treatment adherence due to chemotherapy-related toxicities and psychological burden. Digital interventions such as chatbots had emerged as promising tools to support symptom monitoring and patient engagement. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive chemotherapy-support chatbot on treatment discipline and patient satisfaction among colorectal cancer patients in Makassar.

Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted involving 60 colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Participants were divided into an intervention group using a Telegram-based chatbot (n = 30) and a control group receiving standard care (n = 30). Primary outcomes were chemotherapy discipline, defined as completion of four scheduled sessions, and user satisfaction measured using a five-item Likert scale.

Results: The intervention group achieved significantly higher chemotherapy discipline compared with the control group (90% vs. 50%). The mean number of completed sessions was higher in the intervention group (3.9 vs. 3.1). User satisfaction was very high (mean score 4.69/5), with the reminder feature receiving the highest rating (4.90). The chatbot also reduced discipline-related psychological issues, with no reported psychological dropout in the intervention group.

Conclusion: The interactive chatbot substantially improved chemotherapy adherence and patient satisfaction. Its implementation demonstrated strong potential for wider adoption in Indonesian oncology services.