Novel Use of Chatbot Technology to Educate Patients Before Breast Biopsy

In this pilot study, we created and deployed a chatbot via a touch-screen tablet to our patients who were scheduled to undergo a breast biopsy procedure to provide evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions. A chatbot is a computer program designed to conduct conversation with a user through text or speech [ 1 Granja C. Janssen W. Johansen M.A. Factors determining the success and failure of ehealth interventions: systematic review of the literature. J Med Internet Res. 2018; 20: e10235 Crossref PubMed Scopus (135) Google Scholar ]. Chatbot programs are designed to aid the user in information acquisition, while providing a touch of humanlike connection and improving timely, patient-centric health care dissemination. Our chatbot provided an anonymous, private, low-cost, non-time-limited opportunity for patients to learn about the next phase of their breast care treatment, management, or procedure.