McMaster HealthTech

Lauren Halladay – McMaster University

Chatbots, computer programs designed to simulate conversation with human users, have demonstrated immense potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry. With their ability to deliver efficient, personalized, and accessible healthcare services, chatbots have become increasingly popular, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their use has expanded to various domains, including health advisories, triage, mental health support, and routine tasks such as appointment scheduling and reminders. However, there are varying opinions regarding the role of AI chatbots in healthcare. While some healthcare professionals embrace the transformative capabilities of chatbots, others express concerns about their ability to replace healthcare providers entirely.¹ It is essential to explore the potential of chatbots while recognizing the unique contributions and irreplaceable role of medical professionals in providing comprehensive and empathetic care.

Chatbots hold boundless potential in transforming healthcare delivery. They offer efficient and personalized healthcare services, providing individuals with convenient access to timely information and support. By leveraging chatbot technology, healthcare interventions can be made more accessible to a wider population, bridging gaps in healthcare disparities. Moreover, chatbots have the potential to facilitate behavior change in individuals by offering guidance and support for adopting healthy lifestyles, such as promoting physical activity, nutrition, and improved sleep patterns.¹ Through their user-friendly interfaces and interactive features, chatbots have the ability to engage and motivate individuals to make positive changes in their health behaviors.

To evaluate the efficacy of chatbot interventions, a systematic review and meta-analysis targeting diet, sleep and physical activity were conducted to assess their impact on health outcomes and behaviours. In line with rigorous scientific standards, the inclusion criteria encompassed randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, alongside pre-post trials. A range of outcomes were measured, including total physical activity, steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep quality, and sleep duration.² The statistical analysis method employed was standardized mean differences (SMD), which allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of chatbot interventions in influencing these health outcomes.^2,3

In conducting subgroup analyses, several key findings emerged regarding the effectiveness of chatbot interventions in healthcare. In the first subgroup analysis, it was observed that text-based and artificial intelligence chatbots were more effective in promoting fruit and vegetable consumption compared to speech/voice chatbots. In the second subgroup analysis, multicomponent interventions, which combine chatbot interventions with other components, were found to be more efficacious than chatbot-only interventions in improving sleep duration and quality. Additionally, findings related to the duration, output, and use of artificial intelligence within chatbot interventions were examined, highlighting their impact on efficacy and outcomes. Overall, the study’s interpretation of these findings underscores the effectiveness of chatbot interventions across diverse populations and age groups, emphasizing their importance in enhancing accessibility to healthcare, promoting behavior change, and contributing to overall well-being in public health.¹

Chatbots have demonstrated great potential in transforming healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes. They offer efficiency, accessibility, and personalized care, making them valuable tools in the healthcare industry.² However, it is vital to emphasize the collaboration between chatbots and medical professionals. While chatbots can enhance healthcare services, they should not replace the indispensable role of medical professionals in providing comprehensive and empathetic care.⁴ Further research is needed to explore the full potential of chatbots and to address important ethical and legal considerations associated with their use. The goal of utilizing chatbots in healthcare should always be centered around improving patient outcomes while recognizing the position of healthcare providers.

Works Cited

1. Singh B, Olds T, Brinsley J, Dumuid D, Virgara R, Matricciani L, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of chatbots on lifestyle behaviours. npj digital medicine. 2023 Jun 23;6(1).
2. Wilson L, Marasoiu M. The Development and Use of Chatbots in Public Health: Scoping Review (Preprint). JMIR Human Factors. 2021 Dec 21;9(4).
3. Palanica A, Flaschner P, Thommandram A, Li M, Fossat Y. Physicians’ Perceptions of Chatbots in Health Care: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2019 Apr 5;21(4):e12887.
4. Athota L, Shukla VK, Pandey N, Rana A. Chatbot for Healthcare System Using Artificial Intelligence [Internet]. IEEE Xplore. 2020. p. 619–22. Available from: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9197833.