Director of Pain Management Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine San Diego, California
Abstract Title: Does a Migraine AI Assistant (Maia) Improve Patient Knowledge and Confidence? A Pilot Evaluation
Background: The American Headache Society recommendations outline behavioral, lifestyle, pharmacologic, and device-based interventions to promote prevention and treatment of migraine, .1 Unfortunately, many patients do not feel adequately educated or confident pursuing treatment. While migraine educational interventions have been shown to reduce migraine disability, they can be timeconsuming and non-personalized.2 Artificial intelligence (AI) educational models have shown preliminary positive findings in improving patient education and health outcomes.3 However, it is unclear whether a migraine AI assistant can effectively increase education and confidence in pursing treatment among adults with migraine.
Purpose/Objectives: This research project aimed to evaluate the ability of a clinician guided generative AI assistant (Maia) in improving knowledge and confidence in patients with migraine as well as utilizing qualitative analyses to evaluated satisfaction.
Methods: • N = 23 patients with migraine ages 18+ years were recruited from an outpatient headache clinic in San Diego, CA. • Baseline evaluation: MIDAS, HIT-6, Diet, Sleep, Perceived Stress and Level of knowledge and confidence related to core migraine treatment areas (e.g., medications, procedures, devices, diet, exercise and behavioral therapies). • Participants spent 1-week asking preset and individual questions regarding migraine treatments using Maia chat or phone option. • Paired samples t-test compared migraine management knowledge and confidence before and after using Maia. Significance established at p < .05.
High adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedQ-Sus = 5.8)
After 1-week of using Maia (post-evaluation):
Mean knowledge and confidence scores on migraine prevention, treatment, and lifestyle factors improved across 11/12 items (91.7%)
Statistically significant improvements on 4/12 items pertaining to medication management, side effects of migraine therapies, lifestyle therapies, and multimodal approaches to migraine management
Participants with lower levels of migraine-related disability were significantly more satisfied with Maia than those with greater migraine-related disability (r = -.417, p < .001).
Qualitative surveys demonstrated high level of
Would recommend Maia to a friend (19/23)
Satisfied with information from Maia (20/23)
Agreed Maia was easy to use (21/23)
Conclusions/Implications for future research and/or clinical care:
Providing evidence-based education via short use of an AI migraine assistant effectively improves knowledge and confidence in migraine management
This on-demand and individualized intervention could offer a novel, costeffective solution to augment traditional migraine care and education
Participants appeared eager to share findings with their clinicians vs. viewing Maia as a replacement for clinical care.
Participants suggested that Maia should add migraine tracking features and information on common migraine co-morbidities.
Further evaluation of long-term impact on migraine status and incorporation into clinical models is essential to better understand the potential of this intervention in improving migraine care
References: 1. The American Headache Society position statement on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache. 2019 Jan;59(1):1-8. 2. Kindelan-Calvo P et al. Effectiveness of Therapeutic Patient Education for Adults with Migraine. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs. Pain Medicine. 2014;15(9):1619-1636. 3. Nadarzynski T, et al. Acceptability of AI-led chatbot services in healthcare. Digital Health. 2019 Aug;5:2055207619871808.
