Marcotte Tests Chatbot Designs for Culturally Tailored Breast Cancer Screening Outreach
Posted: 5/14/2026 (CSDE Research)
CSDE Affiliate Leah Marcotte (Medicine) and co-authors, in partnership with Cierra Sisters, recently published an article in Frontiers in Digital Health reporting on a randomized factorial experiment evaluating chatbot designs for breast cancer screening (BCS) outreach. The study tested four conditions with a Black woman persona presented as either a primary care doctor or a breast cancer survivor who used either a direct versus polite communication styles. The doctor-polite condition was most preferred for trust and intention to use. Qualitative feedback indicated that the doctor persona and polite communication style were perceived as professional and friendly, respectively. While some participants appreciated representation in the use of a Black woman persona and found it relatable, others perceived it as stereotyping, patronizing, or targeting. Together this underscores the need for caution in culturally tailored chatbot design.