Towards Enhanced Virtual Chronic Care: Artificial Intelligence-Human Computer Interaction Integration in Synchronous Virtual Consultations

Rising adoption of virtual consultations for patients with chronic conditions in recent years have highlighted their need to be explored and optimised with novel means. These are being undertaken in this on-going interdisciplinary PhD which combines human computer interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence (AI) development and innovation with a participatory approach. This study adopts a multi-stage design inferred by the Integrate Design Assess and Share (IDEAS) framework and includes Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) input to enhance the study design. Firstly, a scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The on-going second stage adopts qualitative methodologies to gain insights into the lived experiences and challenges of patients and healthcare professionals when engaged in virtual consultations. These findings will inform the iterative development of an adequate AI tool in the third stage. Initial findings from the upcoming publication of the full scoping review generally indicate positive virtual consultation experiences and identified key areas of improvement that inform the focus of the qualitative study and the design of interview guides. Potential AI applications include rule-based conversational agents and decision support systems. While on-going, this timely study provides crucial insights into the HCI elements of virtual consultations and explores novel AI means to enhance such interactions.