A Digital Lifestyle Program for Psychological Distress, Wellbeing and Return-to-Work: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

• Work-related disability poses a significant burden on society due to the loss of workforce productivity and increased health care costs. • This proof-of-concept study suggests that a chatbot-led digital lifestyle medicine program may improve psychological and return-to-work outcomes. • Controlled studies to examine the long-term effects on psychosocial outcomes, return-to-work rates, and health care costs are warranted. To demonstrate proof-of-concept for a chatbot-led digital lifestyle medicine program in aiding rehabilitation for return-to-work. Retrospective cohort study with pre-post measures. Community setting, Australia. 78 adult participants (mean age 46 years, 32% female) with an active workers' compensation claim (N=78). A 6-week digital lifestyle medicine program led by an artificially intelligent virtual health coach and weekly telehealth calls with a health coach. Adherence (% program completions) and engagement (% of daily and weekly sessions completed), changes in depression, anxiety and distress (K10), psychological wellbeing (WHO-5), return-to-work confidence and anxiety and change in work status. Sixty participants completed the program (72%), with improvements in psychological distress (P≤.001, r =.47), depression (P <.001, r =.55), anxiety (P <.001, r =.46) and wellbeing (P <.001, r =.62) were noted, as well as increased confidence about returning to work (P≤.001, r =.51) and improved work status (P ≤.001). Anxiety about returning to work remained unchanged. Participants completed an average of 73% of daily virtual coach sessions and 95% of telehealth coaching sessions. Artificial intelligence technology may be able to provide a practical, supportive, and low-cost intervention to improve psychosocial outcomes among individuals on an active workers' compensation claim. Further, controlled research is needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]