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Conversational Agents in Palliative Care: Potential Benefits, Risks, and Next Steps
Yael Schenker1,2,3, Saeed Abdullah4, Robert Arnold1,2
1Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsbiurgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
|January 12, 2024
Summary
Conversational agents can support palliative care by addressing uncomplicated patient needs and facilitating referrals. Careful consideration of risks and benefits is crucial for integrating these AI tools into serious illness care.
Area of Science:
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
- Palliative Care Technology
Background:
- Conversational agents (chatbots) use AI to simulate human conversation.
- Research on healthcare chatbots is emerging, requiring more evaluation in diverse settings.
- Current applications in palliative care are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential roles of conversational agents in palliative care.
- To identify how these agents can support patients with uncomplicated needs.
- To examine how agents can facilitate referrals to specialty palliative care.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and conceptual analysis of AI in palliative care.
- Identification of potential applications aligned with quality palliative care domains.
- Risk-benefit analysis for AI implementation in serious illness.
Main Results:
- Conversational agents can assist with specific patient needs, not replacing clinicians.
- Potential roles include symptom tracking and information provision.
- Facilitation of timely referrals to specialist palliative care is a key function.
Conclusions:
- Conversational agents offer promising tools for enhancing palliative care.
- Careful development and risk assessment are essential for safe and effective use.
- AI chatbots can be a component of a multifaceted approach to improve outcomes for patients with serious illness.
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