A virtual assistant for primary care's food and nutrition surveillance system: Development and validation study in Brazil

The study aimed to develop and validate a conversational agent (chatbot) designed to support Food and Nutrition Surveillance (FNS) practices in primary health care settings. This mixed-methods research was conducted in three stages. Initially, the study identified barriers and challenges in FNS practices through a literature review and feedback from 655 health professionals and FNS experts across Brazil. Following this, a participatory design approach was employed to develop and validate the chatbot's content. The final stage involved evaluating the chatbot's user experience with FNS experts. The chatbot could accurately understand and respond to 60 different intents or keywords related to FNS. Themes such as training, guidance, and access emerged as crucial for guiding FNS initiatives and addressing implementation challenges, primarily related to human resources. The chatbot achieved a Global Content Validation Index of 0.88. The developed chatbot represents a significant advancement in supporting FNS practices within primary health care. By providing an innovative, interactive, educational tool that is both accessible and reliable, this digital assistant has the potential to facilitate the operationalization of FNS practices, addressing the critical need for effective training and counseling in developing countries. •We developed and validated a conversational agent for professionals of food and nutrition surveillance in primary care.•The tool adheres to local guidelines and achieving a high Global Content Validation Index of 0.88.•This tool addresses crucial training, guidance, and access challenges faced by health professionals in developing countries.•Its implementation could enhance surveillance by offering an interactive, educational, and continuously accessible resource.