Table 1.
Characterization of the Chatbot—Health Contexts and Core Features.
| Evaluation criteria | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Context of interaction | |
| User (n = 140a) | |
| Patients | 74 (52.86) |
| Healthcare providers | 6 (4.29) |
| Any user | 60 (42.86) |
| Undetermined | 0 (0) |
| Health domain areas (n = 152a) | |
| Mental health | 22 (14.47) |
| Primary care | 47 (30.92) |
| Otherb | 83 (54.61) |
| Undetermined | 0 (0) |
| Theoretical or therapeutic frameworkc(n = 79a) | |
| Yes | 6 (7.59) |
| No | 73 (92.41) |
| Undetermined | 0 (0) |
| Level of personalization | |
| Automation (n = 78) | |
| Yes | 47 (60.26) |
| Implicit | 0 (0) |
| Explicit | 47 (100.00) |
| No | 29 (37.18) |
| Undetermined | 2 (2.56) |
| Target (n = 47) | |
| Individuated | 47 (100.00) |
| Categorical | 0 (0) |
| Aspects of system (n = 48d) | |
| Content | 43 (89.58) |
| User interface | 5 (10.42) |
| Delivery channel | 0 (0) |
| Functionality | 0 (0) |
| Additional features (n = 128a) | |
| Appointment scheduling | 7 (5.47) |
| Clinic/services locator | 5 (3.91) |
| Create account | 8 (6.25) |
| Decision aid support | 8 (6.25) |
| Embodied conversational agent/chatbot | 5 (3.91) |
| Integration of videos | 6 (4.69) |
| Main menu/navigation bar | 5 (3.91) |
| Push notifications/reminders to use | 26 (20.31) |
| Required purchase to use | 5 (3.91) |
| Redirect to doctor/therapist | 6 (4.69) |
| No additional features | 19 (14.84) |
| Undetermined | 3 (2.34) |
| Othere | 25 (19.53) |
| Mobile/Web Access (n = 88a) | |
| Mobile | 78 (88.64) |
| Web | 10 (11.36) |
| Undetermined | 0 (0) |
| Security (n = 78) | |
| E-mail verification | 9 (11.54) |
| Text verification | 3 (3.85) |
| Social media verification | 1 (1.28) |
| Passcode to access app | 1 (1.28) |
| No security elements | 62 (79.49) |
| Undetermined | 2 (2.56) |
| Privacy (n = 81a) | |
| HIPAA | 10 (12.35) |
| Child Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) | 3 (3.70) |
| Medical disclaimer | 13 (16.05) |
| Other privacy elementsf | 2 (2.47) |
| No privacy elements | 51 (62.96) |
| Undetermined | 2 (2.47) |
aTotal sample size exceeds 78 because the healthbot can fulfill multiple categories.
bOther: anethesiology, cancer, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, genetics, medical claims, neurology, nutrition, pathology, and sexual health.
cModels: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Stages of Change/Transtheoretical Model.
dTotal sample size exceeds 47 because the healthbot can fulfill multiple categories.
eOther: Billing; Bluetooth Connection to Health Device; Clarity of text/images (Chen); Connect to store; Emergency Mode for Urgent Matters; Forum or Social Network (Chen); Gamification (Chen); GPS (Chen); Internal search function (Chen); Lab Results/Health History; Link to additional information; Order Tests / Medication; Tracker for food or symptoms.
fOther privacy elements include: encrypted data disclaimer, app-specific privacy policy.