Initial testing of the College Parent Guide: an artificial intelligence chatbot to support parents in preventing...

The objective of this study was to evaluate expert perceptions of The College Parent Guide (CPG), an AI-driven chatbot developed to increase the accessibility of Parent-Based Interventions (PBIs) by providing research-based guidance on student drinking, parent communication, and risk reduction. Seventeen PhD-level experts in alcohol/substance use, parenting, and adolescent/emerging adult health completed an online survey and entered four standardised prompts and two personal prompts. Responses were rated for similarity, accuracy, clarity, appropriateness, and potential benefit or harm. Experts also reported whether further modification was needed. Sixteen experts agreed CPG would provide reliable, safe information for parents of college students. Two believed at least one standardised response could be harmful/somewhat harmful, and two reported similar concerns for personalised prompts. Only one participant identified multiple concerning responses. A mini-audit found no unsafe or inaccurate content within flag outputs to standardised prompts. Overall, 14 experts recommended CPG as a supplemental tool with minor updates, two suggested none, and one recommended major revisions. Conclusions: CPG appears promising and scalable for delivering reliable guidance to parents. Before implementation within PBIs, further research should examine parent engagement, effectiveness, and whether the guidance supports safe, constructive communication for families in higher education settings.