Aksenova E.I., Medvedeva E.I., Kroshilin S.V. Chatbots is the modern reality of consulting in medicine. Health care of the Russian Federation. 2023;67(5):403-410. (In Russ.) https: ...

Abstract

Introduction. Modern digital innovations and artificial intelligence technologies are being actively introduced in medicine. Now chatbots are able to provide consulting services and make appointments for patients, make a diagnosis. Chatbots can significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of symptom detection, assist in remote biomonitoring. The development of such technologies in Russian healthcare can significantly improve the quality of service and patient satisfaction. The purpose is to study the possibilities of development and directions of implementation of chatbots based on artificial intelligence technologies in medicine and to assess the potential of their application. Material and methods. The study is prospective, includes the analysis of secondary information and conducting an expert interview on issues related to the development, application practice, and distribution of chatbots. Results. Modern chatbots can answer routine questions, suggest treatment directions based on symptoms, and give recommendations on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The survey showed that most experts already see the need to introduce chatbots in medicine. The main advantages are getting an instant response and saving patients' time. The disadvantages of using chatbots may be incorrect interpretation of user requests and interpretation of information by patients. Experts see risks in the erroneous diagnosis and in the measure of responsibility. Limitation of research. The research materials are limited to the results of an expert survey conducted in 2023 and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the respondents who met the requirements for experts. Conclusions. Chatbots in the field of healthcare have already become a reality in consulting and providing the necessary medical information. Thanks to the development of information technologies, chatbots are able to process significant amounts of data received from patients, quickly and accurately find answers, provide information support, and establish a preliminary diagnosis. Such solutions can reduce the burden on medical professionals and increase patient satisfaction. Compliance with ethical standards. The conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee was not required to conduct this study (the study was carried out on publicly available information and data obtained as a result of expert interviews).