Clinical Empathy Module for PA coaching chatbots

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

The Clinical Empathy Module is a pipeline attached to the Empathetic chatbot variant that identifies Empathy Opportunities in user messages and generates clinically informed empathetic responses. It consists of three submodules: an "Empathy Opportunity Classifier", a "Strategy Sampler", and an "Instruction Generator". The classifier is a GPT-4o-mini-based model with "a top-three classification accuracy of 85.3%"; the sampler draws from EO-specific strategy distributions built from statistics in Rey Velasco et al.; the generator produces system instructions for GPT-4o describing the chosen strategies. Only the Empathetic chatbot variant has access to this module.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• A GPT-4o base model and WhatsApp/Twilio delivery infrastructure
• EO-to-strategy mappings derived from the healthcare-professional response data of Rey Velasco et al.
• Check-in questions designed to elicit negative self-disclosure so that naturalistic Empathy Opportunities arise

Constraints

• The module is not activated in the initial consultation session; it operates only in maintenance sessions
• The chatbot does not retain every single past conversation, since summaries are condensed and only the top 3-5 relevant bullets are retrieved

Target Learners

• Inactive but motivated adults seeking to increase physical activity

Learning Goals

• Sustained physical activity behavior change
• Increased intention to follow coaching advice and self-efficacy

Claims

• Llm Epitome Scores Differentiate Nonempathetic [+M]
• Empathetic Chatbot Faster Intention Selfefficacy Growth [+M]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Li Siyan, Kai-Hui Liang, Shopnil Shahriar, Yilin Ye, Shiyoh Goetsu, Wei-Wei Du, Masahiro Yoshida, Tsunayuki Ohwa, Xuhai Xu, and Zhou Yu. (2026). Invisible Impact of Empathy on Behavioral Change: Isolating the Effect of Empathy in Long-term Physical Activity Coaching Chatbot Interactions. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.26641

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	clinical-empathy-module-pa-chatbot
title	Clinical Empathy Module for PA coaching chatbots
description	The Clinical Empathy Module is a pipeline attached to the Empathetic chatbot variant that identifies Empathy Opportunities in user messages and generates clinically informed empathetic responses.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-10
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — li-siyan-2026

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