Publication date: Feb 03, 2025

Chatbots are increasingly accepted in public health for their ability to replicate human-like communication and provide scalable, 24/7 services. The high prevalence of dental caries in children underscores the need for early and effective intervention. This study aimed to develop the 30-Day FunDee chatbot and evaluate its effectiveness, usability, and acceptability in delivering oral health education to caregivers of children aged 6 to 36 months. The chatbot was created using the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot behavior change model, integrating behavioral change theories into content designed for 3-5 minutes of daily use over 30 days. A pre-post experimental study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2022 in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, and Maelan District, Pattani Province, Thailand. Fifty-eight caregivers completed a web-based structured questionnaire at baseline and 2 months post baseline to evaluate knowledge, protection motivation theory-based perceptions, and tooth-brushing practices. Usability was assessed via chatbot logfiles and a web-based questionnaire at 2 months post baseline. Acceptability was evaluated through three methods: (1) open-ended chatbot interactions on day 30, (2) a web-based structured questionnaire at 2 months post baseline, and (3) semistructured telephone interviews with 15 participants 2 weeks post intervention. Participants for interviews were stratified by adherence levels and randomly selected from Hatyai and Maelan districts. All self-reported variables were measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1=lowest, 5=highest). The chatbot was successfully developed based on the 4 components of the AI chatbot behavior change model. Participants had a mean age of 34. 5 (SD 8. 6) years. The frequency of tooth brushing among caregivers significantly improved, increasing from 72. 4% at baseline to 93. 1% two months post baseline (P=. 006). Protection motivation theory-based perceptions also showed significant improvement, with mean scores rising from 4. 0 (SD 0. 6) at baseline to 4. 5 (SD 0. 6) two months post baseline (P

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