Evaluating a Novel Rehabilitation Chatbot: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial for Distal Radius Fracture Recovery

Summary

This study is a single-center pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating a rehabilitation chatbot, "Wrist Health," for elderly patients (60-90 years) recovering from conservatively treated distal radius fractures in Hong Kong. The trial compares conventional hospital-based rehabilitation plus a conventional home program with the same conventional rehabilitation supplemented by the chatbot, which delivers home exercises, education, reminders, and real-time usage tracking. Participants are randomized 1:1, followed for 12 weeks, and assessed at baseline, week 6, and week 12 using functional measures (range of motion, grip and pinch strength, PRWE), satisfaction, quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), adherence, feasibility metrics, and Technology Acceptance Model-based usability and acceptance outcomes.

Data will be analyzed primarily on an intention-to-treat basis using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests for between-group comparisons and repeated-measures methods to examine change over time, with qualitative feedback analyzed thematically. The study has obtained/will obtain ethics approval from relevant institutional review boards, uses informed consent procedures, and applies robust data protection measures (password-protected systems, anonymization, locked physical storage, and secure destruction after the retention period). The findings are expected to provide preliminary evidence on clinical usability, feasibility, and effectiveness of the chatbot and to inform the design of a larger, definitive RCT and potential integration of digital rehabilitation tools into routine practice for elderly distal radius fracture patients.

Conditions

• Fracture Distal Radius

Interventions

DEVICE

Wrist Health chatbot

This intervention combines generative AI conversational interface with therapist backend monitoring. It supplements (does not replace) 2x/week outpatient occupational therapy, focusing on conservative distal radius fracture.

OTHER

Conventional DRF rehabilitation

standard outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation for conservatively treated distal radius fractures (2 sessions/week for 12 weeks) plus a conventional paper-based home exercise program. This includes printed instructions for daily wrist range of motion, strengthening, and functional exercises, with weekly paper exercise logs for self-monitoring. No digital tools, reminders, or interactive features are provided.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lun Yan Ngan, Master · The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Max Age

90 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-12-02

Primary Completion

2026-11-30

Completion

2027-02-28

Countries

• Hong Kong

Study Locations