Can a chatbot ease caregiver stress? new study says maybe
NCT ID NCT07145723
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether an AI therapy chatbot called Earkick could help support people caring for a loved one with dementia. 26 caregivers used the chatbot, and researchers measured how practical and acceptable it was. The goal was to see if this kind of technology could be a helpful tool for reducing caregiver burden.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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26 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants need to be a care partner (informal caregiver) of an individual living with dementia * Participant provides emotional, physical, and/or financial support/assistance to the individual with dementia (per protocol) * Participants indicate high levels of caregiver burden, confirmed using the 12-item Zarit Burden questionnaire (per protocol) * Provide informed consent and read, speak, and understand English * Have an Apple smartphone, tablet, or laptop, have access to the internet and text messages, and be willing to use this device as well as internet and text message access for the study, including downloading the AI chatbot app * Be willing to complete all study assessments Exclusion Criteria: * Professional, paid caregivers * Anything that would preclude safe or meaningful participation in the study
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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