The acceptability of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbots, video consultations and live webchat as online platforms for sexual health advice
The acceptability of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbots, video consultations and live webchat as online platforms for sexual health advice
Objectives Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are undergoing a digital transformation. This study explored the acceptability of three digital services, (i) video consultations via Skype, (ii) live webchats with a health advisor and (iii) artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbots, as potential platforms for SRH advice. Methods A pencil-and-paper 33-item survey was distributed in three clinics in Hampshire, UK for patients attending SRH services. Logistic regressions were performed to identify the correlates of acceptability. Results In total, 257 patients (57% women, 50% aged <25 years) completed the survey. As the first point of contact, 70% preferred face-to-face consultations, 17% telephone consultation, 10% webchats and 3% video consultations. Most would be willing to use video consultations (58%) and webchat facilities (73%) for ongoing care, but only 40% found AI chatbots acceptable. Younger age (<25 years) (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.35 to 4.38), White ethnicity (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.30 to 6.34), past sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.95), self-reported STI symptoms (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.97), smartphone ownership (OR 16.0, 95% CI 3.64 to 70.5) and the preference for a SRH smartphone application (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.35) were associated with video consultations, webchats or chatbots acceptability. Conclusions Although video consultations and webchat services appear acceptable, there is currently little support for SRH chatbots. The findings demonstrate a preference for human interaction in SRH services. Policymakers and intervention developers need to ensure that digital transformation is not only cost-effective but also acceptable to users, easily accessible and equitable to all populations using SRH services.
AI, digital, eHealth, mHealth
210-217
Nadarzynski, Tomasz
218d69a1-d1be-46f4-bead-23071bd4f270
Bayley, Jake
f1dac51a-704a-4fe8-86c7-4a2dcc2bdd67
Llewellyn, Carrie
f618e0d0-7b27-4132-b92c-e977422d9439
Kidsley, Sally
b060b8bd-46e0-42db-a2d2-71cfb3940288
Graham, Cynthia
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
1 July 2020
Nadarzynski, Tomasz
218d69a1-d1be-46f4-bead-23071bd4f270
Bayley, Jake
f1dac51a-704a-4fe8-86c7-4a2dcc2bdd67
Llewellyn, Carrie
f618e0d0-7b27-4132-b92c-e977422d9439
Kidsley, Sally
b060b8bd-46e0-42db-a2d2-71cfb3940288
Graham, Cynthia
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Nadarzynski, Tomasz, Bayley, Jake, Llewellyn, Carrie, Kidsley, Sally and Graham, Cynthia
(2020)
The acceptability of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbots, video consultations and live webchat as online platforms for sexual health advice.
BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health, 46 (3), .
(doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2018-200271).
Abstract
Objectives Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are undergoing a digital transformation. This study explored the acceptability of three digital services, (i) video consultations via Skype, (ii) live webchats with a health advisor and (iii) artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbots, as potential platforms for SRH advice. Methods A pencil-and-paper 33-item survey was distributed in three clinics in Hampshire, UK for patients attending SRH services. Logistic regressions were performed to identify the correlates of acceptability. Results In total, 257 patients (57% women, 50% aged <25 years) completed the survey. As the first point of contact, 70% preferred face-to-face consultations, 17% telephone consultation, 10% webchats and 3% video consultations. Most would be willing to use video consultations (58%) and webchat facilities (73%) for ongoing care, but only 40% found AI chatbots acceptable. Younger age (<25 years) (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.35 to 4.38), White ethnicity (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.30 to 6.34), past sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.95), self-reported STI symptoms (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.97), smartphone ownership (OR 16.0, 95% CI 3.64 to 70.5) and the preference for a SRH smartphone application (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.35) were associated with video consultations, webchats or chatbots acceptability. Conclusions Although video consultations and webchat services appear acceptable, there is currently little support for SRH chatbots. The findings demonstrate a preference for human interaction in SRH services. Policymakers and intervention developers need to ensure that digital transformation is not only cost-effective but also acceptable to users, easily accessible and equitable to all populations using SRH services.
Text
BMJRSH resubmission 121219 mainACCEPTED
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 19 December 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 21 January 2020
Published date: 1 July 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
Funding This work was funded by the University of
Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Keywords:
AI, digital, eHealth, mHealth
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 438410
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/438410
PURE UUID: 917c8c07-29fc-43df-9f30-c264cd769e43
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Date deposited: 09 Mar 2020 17:32
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:27
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Contributors
Author:
Tomasz Nadarzynski
Author:
Jake Bayley
Author:
Carrie Llewellyn
Author:
Sally Kidsley
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