Health Care Professionals' Perspectives on Conversational Mental Health Chatbots: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Mental Health Technology
• Systematic Review Methodology

Background:

• Mental health disorders (MHDs) are a growing global concern.
• Conversational mental health chatbots (CMHBs) are increasingly used for self-directed support.
• Limited research exists on healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perspectives on CMHBs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on HCPs' perceptions of CMHBs.
• To explore HCPs' views on therapeutic roles, trustworthiness, safety, and ethics.
• To identify implementation barriers and facilitators for CMHBs in mental health care.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Searches across major databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, etc.) with no date restrictions.
• AI-assisted screening (ASReview) and convergent integrated mixed methods synthesis.

Main Results:

• The review protocol is established, with initial searches completed in November 2025.
• Over 18,500 records were identified post-deduplication.
• Ongoing screening and data extraction are planned through August 2026.

Conclusions:

• This protocol details a comprehensive synthesis of HCPs' perspectives on CMHBs.
• The review will identify perceived benefits, risks, and ethical considerations.
• Findings will inform the safe and effective integration of CMHBs into mental health services.