A User-Centered Approach to Customizing, Validating, and Evaluating a Large Language Model for Empowering Healthcare Providers with Up-to-Date Information on Adolescent and Child Health

<ns3:p>Healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Kenya face critical challenges in accessing reliable, context-specific information on adolescent and child health, which hampers clinical decision-making and compromises patient outcomes. Large Language Models (LLMs) offer a promising solution by delivering validated, localized knowledge tailored to the needs of Kenya’s healthcare system. This study aims to (1) assess current knowledge and ethical perspectives of HCPs regarding LLMs, (2) iteratively refine and evaluate a web-based LLM prototype, (3) examine its real-world usability and clinical relevance, and (4) develop a comprehensive regulatory compliance and quality assurance framework. Employing a mixed-methods design that includes surveys, interviews, and co-design workshops that will engage stakeholders across Nairobi, Kajiado, and Migori counties. Participants will include medical doctors, nurses, midwives, clinical officers, and community health promoters involved in adolescent and child health. Additionally, policymakers, ICT specialists, facility administrators, and quality assurance officers will contribute to framework development. A total of 678 participants will be enrolled: 240 HCPs for key interviews, 360 for co-design, and 360 for usability and utility testing (with overlap), plus 78 stakeholders for regulatory discussions. Purposive sampling will ensure diverse representation across professional roles and facility levels. Conducted over 12 months, with data collection from May to July 2025, the study will employ both quantitative and qualitative analyses in profiling participant demographics, assessing associations between awareness, ethics, and usability, and identifying thematic patterns around implementation barriers and user feedback. Stakeholder workshops will guide framework validation and refinement. This research strategy recognizes that ethical, usable AI implementation demands more than technical precision. By centering HCPs, supporting meaningful policy dialogue, and addressing regulatory challenges, the study aims to promote equitable adoption, sustainable impact, and ethical integration of LLMs into Kenya’s healthcare ecosystem.</ns3:p>