Objective:

To examine the current evidence regarding pediatric health care chatbots and identify future perspectives for their development and implementation.

Approach:

• Introduction: The article discusses the increasing adoption of health care chatbots in various settings, highlighting their potential applications in pediatric care.
• Pediatric Considerations: It emphasizes the unique aspects of pediatric care, including the reliance on caregivers and the developmental differences in children that affect chatbot design.
• CHAT Framework: The CHAT framework for health care conversational agents is introduced, providing guidance on design and implementation but lacking specific pediatric considerations.

Key Findings:

• Pediatric health care chatbots are less prevalent than those for adults.
• Chatbots may assist in health education, preventive care, and symptom management for children and caregivers.
• Developmental stages in children necessitate tailored chatbot designs to meet varying cognitive needs.

Interpretation:

The review highlights the need for a pediatric-specific synthesis of chatbot research to address the unique requirements of children and their caregivers.

Limitations:

• Existing pediatric evidence is scattered across various health conditions and chatbot functions, limiting comprehensive understanding.
• The CHAT framework does not explicitly address pediatric needs or child-caregiver dynamics.

Conclusion:

A focused approach is required to develop effective pediatric health care chatbots that consider developmental differences and caregiver involvement.

Sources:

• Palanica et al. (2019)
• Kurniawan et al. (2024)
• Martinengo et al. (2023)