NCT07280650 · NOT YET RECRUITING
Feasibility and Acceptability of an LLM-based Chatbot for Family Caregivers: Evaluation Study
This study tests whether an AI chatbot app called Earkick is practical and acceptable for family caregivers. Up to 60 caregivers of people with brain injury, dementia, or Huntington disease use it for 8 weeks: four weeks on physical health, four on mental health. They answer surveys and an interview. It is an early feasibility study, not a test of whether it works.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria (care partner) * Age 18 years or older * Able to independently provide informed consent * Able to read, speak, and understand English * Have an Apple (iOS) smartphone, tablet, or laptop, have access to the internet and text messages, and be willing to use these resources for the study, including downloading and using the AI chatbot app (Earkick) * Be caring for and adult with a medically documented diagnosis of TBI, dementia or Huntington disease (HD) * Provide emotional, physical, and/or financial support/assistance to the individual with the TBI, dementia, or HD, indicating a response per protocol * Indicate high levels of caregiver burden, confirmed using the 12-item Zarit Burden questionnaire (scores must be ≥20) * Willing to complete all study assessments for the duration of their study participation Inclusion Criteria (care recipient): * Age 18 years or older * Have a medically documented diagnosis of TBI, dementia or Huntington disease as noted per protocol Exclusion Criteria (care partner) * Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria above * Professional, paid caregivers * Anyone at the discretion of the Principal investigator (PI) that would be a preclusion of safe or meaningful participation Exclusion Criteria (care recipient): * Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria * Lives in a care facility (assisted living, nursing home) or is bedbound
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-04-20