Short summary

There are almost one million out patient sessions at Odense University Hospital (OUH). Many treatment options are standardized and so is communication with patients. Chatbots can both guide patients to find correct validated information and decrease the number of patients contacting the Hospital. The study will investigate potentials in using chatbots in the healthcare sector. A chatbot is developed for patients with endometriose at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Rationale

The introduction of chatbots have shown positive results for both companies and customers in the business world. There is a potential in investigating and testing the possibilities for the same mechanisms to be transferred to the healthcare system. The study will be investigating a solution for providing an improved communication path with the patients, as well as reducing repetitive patient contact to healthcare personnel. The use of artificial intelligence together with chatbots is developing rapidly, and new usage opportunities are emerging all the time, enabling new possibilities in healthcare.

The overall aim of the study is to investigate the potential of using chatbots in the healthcare system by developing for a specific patient group. The activities in the project are: investigations of patient and personnel needs, development of a chatbot, testing the chatbot and an evaluation. The study will be used to demonstrate possible proof-of-concept. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Odense University Hospital (OUH) sees a potential in using a chatbot to answer repeated questions in the clinic and to reduce patients' search for (mis)information online. It is important to understand how the patients will react to and interact with a chatbot, to be able to offer a solution that is designed for their needs and habits. The study therefore also aims at investigating many aspects involving the patients. It is for example the patients' preferences for the placement of the chatbot, how they experience the chatbots language and whether they are comfortable having a chatbot answering their health questions.

Description of the cohort

Women with endometriose from Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, OUH, out patient clinic.

Data and biological material

1. Text message correspondences between patients and healthcare personnel in the App "Mit Sygehus". 2. Interviews of patients and healthcare personnel. 3. Workshop with patients and healthcare personnel.

Collaborating researchers and departments

CIMT, Centre for Innovative Medical Technology,Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark

CAI-X, Centre for Clinical Artificial Intelligence, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark

Quality Assurance and Automation, Regional IT, the Region of Southern Denmark

OPEN Qualitative, OPEN, Open Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Region of Southern Denmark

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