AI Chatbots Support Health Behavior Change
University of Utah authors conducted a PRISMA-ScR scoping review through March 2024, analyzing 43 studies of text-based AI chatbots across eight health behaviors. They found chatbots mainly acted as routine coaches (63%) or on-demand assistants (28%), relied on CBT frameworks and non-code platforms like Dialogflow, and produced 81.7% positive comparisons though only 35.8% showed moderate-or-larger effects. The review calls for more research on cost, implementation, and understudied behaviors.
Key Points
- 1Identify 43 studies through March 2024 evaluating AI chatbots as routine coaches or on-demand assistants
- 2Show 81.7% of 120 comparisons reported positive outcomes, yet only 35.8% had moderate or larger effects
- 3Suggest practitioners prioritize CBT-driven designs, goal-setting, feedback, and social-support techniques for interventions
Scoring Rationale
Comprehensive peer-reviewed synthesis delivers practical guidance; however, moderate novelty and exploratory, mixed-effect evidence limit transformative impact.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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