Impact of Digital Transformation on Mental Healthcare: Opportunities, Challenges, and Role of AI Chat-bots in Symptom Management

Bo-Woo Lee, Darmadi Darmadi, Zhanna Gardanova, Evgeniy Kostyrin, Nataliya Gilmanova, Mikhail Kosov, Andrey Pozdnyaev

Abstract


Mental health disorders are a significant global health burden, and access to mental healthcare services remains a challenge. Digital transformation has emerged as a promising solution, but it also presents its own set of challenges. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of digital transformation on mental healthcare, identify the opportunities and challenges it presents, and to examine the role of AI chat-bots in mental health symptom management. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review, a theoretical framework is developed, and five hypotheses are proposed. Methods: This study employs a cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from mental healthcare professionals in three countries. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses and examine the relationships among digital transformation, opportunities, challenges, AI chat-bot effectiveness, and mental health symptom management. Findings: The results provide support for the hypothesized relationships, highlighting the significant influence of digital transformation on opportunities and challenges, the impact of opportunities on AI chat-bot effectiveness, and the role of AI chat-bots in mental health symptom management. Novelties: This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of digital transformation in mental healthcare and offers practical implications for the development and implementation of effective digital mental health interventions.

 

Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-04-012

Full Text: PDF


Keywords


Digital Transformation; Mental Healthcare; Ai Chat-Bots; Challenges; Opportunities; Symptom Management; Structural Equation Modeling.

References


WHO. (2023). Depressive Disorder (Depression). World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression (accessed on June 2024).

Xiong, J., Lipsitz, O., Nasri, F., Lui, L. M. W., Gill, H., Phan, L., Chen-Li, D., Iacobucci, M., Ho, R., Majeed, A., & McIntyre, R. S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277, 55–64. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001.

Stoumpos, A. I., Kitsios, F., & Talias, M. A. (2023). Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Technology Acceptance and Its Applications. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3407. doi:10.3390/ijerph20043407.

Bond, R. R., Mulvenna, M. D., Potts, C., O’Neill, S., Ennis, E., & Torous, J. (2023). Digital transformation of mental health services. Npj Mental Health Research, 2(1), 13. doi:10.1038/s44184-023-00033-y.

Westheimer, J. L., Moukaddam, N., Lindsay, J. A., Sabharwal, A., Najafi, B., Iacobelli, P. A., Boland, R. J., & Patriquin, M. A. (2023). Technology Implementation for Mental Health End Users: A Model to Guide Digital Transformation for Inpatient Mental Health Professionals. JMIR Mental Health, 10, 40429. doi:10.2196/40429.

You, Y., Tsai, C. H., Li, Y., Ma, F., Heron, C., & Gui, X. (2023). Beyond Self-diagnosis: How a Chatbot-based Symptom Checker Should Respond. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 30(4), 64. doi:10.1145/3589959.

Kurniawan, M. H., Handiyani, H., Nuraini, T., Hariyati, R. T. S., & Sutrisno, S. (2024). A systematic review of artificial intelligence-powered (AI-powered) chatbot intervention for managing chronic illness. Annals of Medicine, 56(1), 2302980. doi:10.1080/07853890.2024.2302980.

Cabanillas-Carbonell, M., Pérez-Martínez, J., & A. Yáñez, J. (2023). 5G Technology in the Digital Transformation of Healthcare, a Systematic Review. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(4), 3178. doi:10.3390/su15043178.

Miralles, I., Granell, C., Díaz-Sanahuja, L., van Woensel, W., Bretón-López, J., Mira, A., Castilla, D., & Casteleyn, S. (2020). Smartphone apps for the treatment of mental disorders: Systematic review. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 8(4), 14897. doi:10.2196/14897.

Manek, A. S., Priyanga, P., Christa, S., & Dawda, N. (2024). Role of AI and Machine Learning in Mental Healthcare. Data Science and Big Data Analytics, IDBA 2023, Data-Intensive Research, Springer, Singapore. doi:10.1007/978-981-99-9179-2_4.

Santarsiero, F., Schiuma, G., Carlucci, D., & Helander, N. (2023). Digital transformation in healthcare organizations: The role of innovation labs. Technovation, 122, 102640. doi:10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102640.

Insel, T. (2023). Digital mental health care: five lessons from Act 1 and a preview of Acts 2–5. NPJ Digital Medicine, 6(1), 9. doi:10.1038/s41746-023-00760-8.

Fernandez, E., Woldgabreal, Y., Day, A., Pham, T., Gleich, B., & Aboujaoude, E. (2021). Live psychotherapy by video versus in-person: A meta-analysis of efficacy and its relationship to types and targets of treatment. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 28(6), 1535–1549. doi:10.1002/cpp.2594.

Stoll, J., Müller, J. A., & Trachsel, M. (2020). Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 498439. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993.

Mhlanga, D. (2023). Digital Transformation in the Healthcare Sector: The Role of Artificial Intelligence for Inclusive Long-Term Care Around the World, Lessons for Africa. Economic Inclusion in Post-Independence Africa, Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development, Springer, Cham, Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-31431-5_19.

Nogueira-Leite, D., & Cruz-Correia, R. (2023). Attitudes of Physicians and Individuals Toward Digital Mental Health Tools: Protocol for a Web-Based Survey Research Project. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, 41040. doi:10.2196/41040.

Tracy, D. K., Gadelrab, R., Rahim, A., Pendlebury, G., Reza, H., Bhattacharya, R., Bachlani, A., Worlley, K., Rigby, D., Heath, M., & Dave, S. (2024). Digital literacy in contemporary mental healthcare: online assessments and mobile health apps. BJPsych Advances, 30(1), 27–35. doi:10.1192/bja.2022.60.

Afshar Jahanshahi, A., & Polas, M. R. H. (2023). Moving toward Digital Transformation by Force: Students’ Preferences, Happiness, and Mental Health. Electronics (Switzerland), 12(10), 2187. doi:10.3390/electronics12102187.

Saeed, S. A., & Masters, R. M. R. (2021). Disparities in Health Care and the Digital Divide. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23(9), 61. doi:10.1007/s11920-021-01274-4.

Van der Schyff, E. L., Ridout, B., Dip, G., Amon, K. L., Forsyth, R., Cert, G., & Campbell, A. J. (2023). Providing Self-Led Mental Health Support Through an Artificial Intelligence–Powered Chat Bot (Leora) to Meet the Demand of Mental Health Care. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, 46448. doi:10.2196/46448.

Lattie, E. G., Nicholas, J., Knapp, A. A., Skerl, J. J., Kaiser, S. M., & Mohr, D. C. (2020). Opportunities for and Tensions Surrounding the Use of Technology-Enabled Mental Health Services in Community Mental Health Care. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 47(1), 138–149. doi:10.1007/s10488-019-00979-2.

Torous, J., Bucci, S., Bell, I. H., Kessing, L. V., Faurholt-Jepsen, M., Whelan, P., Carvalho, A. F., Keshavan, M., Linardon, J., & Firth, J. (2021). The growing field of digital psychiatry: current evidence and the future of apps, social media, chatbots, and virtual reality. World Psychiatry, 20(3), 318–335. doi:10.1002/wps.20883.

Darda, P., & Matta, N. (2024). The Nexus of Healthcare and Technology. Transformative Approaches to Patient Literacy and Healthcare Innovation, IGI Global, Pennsylvania, United States. doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-3661-8.ch013.

Egher, C. (2023). Digital Healthcare and Expertise : Mental Health and New Knowledge Practices. Palgrave Macmillan. doi:10.1007/978-981-16-9178-2.

Vindigni, G. (2023). Exploring Digital Therapeutics: Game-Based and eHealth Interventions in Mental Health Care: Potential, Challenges, and Policy Implications. Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging, 10(3), 177–204. doi:10.14738/bjhmr.103.14804.

Kolasa, K. (2024). The Digital Transformation of the Healthcare System: Healthcare 5.0, Routledge, London, United Kingdom. doi:10.1321/b23291.

Galatzer-Levy, I. R., Aranovich, G. J., & Insel, T. R. (2023). Can Mental Health Care Become More Human by Becoming More Digital? Daedalus, 152(4), 228–244. doi:10.1162/daed_a_02040.

Hamdoun, S., Monteleone, R., Bookman, T., & Michael, K. (2023). AI-Based and Digital Mental Health Apps: Balancing Need and Risk. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, 42(1), 25–36. doi:10.1109/MTS.2023.3241309.

Sabour, S., Zhang, W., Xiao, X., Zhang, Y., Zheng, Y., Wen, J., Zhao, J., & Huang, M. (2023). A chatbot for mental health support: exploring the impact of Emohaa on reducing mental distress in China. Frontiers in Digital Health, 5, 1133987. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2023.1133987.

Ahmed, A., Hassan, A., Aziz, S., Abd-alrazaq, A. A., Ali, N., Alzubaidi, M., Al-Thani, D., Elhusein, B., Siddig, M. A., Ahmed, M., & Househ, M. (2023). Chatbot features for anxiety and depression: A scoping review. Health Informatics Journal, 29(1), 14604582221146720. doi:10.1177/14604582221146719.

Satheeshkumar, R., Saini, K., Daniel, A., & Khari, M. (2022). 5G—Communication in HealthCare applications. Advances in Computers, 127, 485–506. doi:10.1016/bs.adcom.2022.02.014.

Altamimi, I., Altamimi, A., Alhumimidi, A. S., Altamimi, A., & Temsah, M.-H. (2023). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbots in Medicine: A Supplement, Not a Substitute. Cureus, 15(6), 40922. doi:10.7759/cureus.40922.

Li, L., Peng, W., & Rheu, M. M. J. (2024). Factors Predicting Intentions of Adoption and Continued Use of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots for Mental Health: Examining the Role of UTAUT Model, Stigma, Privacy Concerns, and Artificial Intelligence Hesitancy. Telemedicine and E-Health, 30(3), 722–730. doi:10.1089/tmj.2023.0313.

Topal Koç, D., & Mercan, Y. (2023). Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation in Healthcare Management. Two Faces of Digital Transformation, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, United Kingdom. doi:10.1108/978-1-83753-096-020231007.

Omarov, B., Narynov, S., & Zhumanov, Z. (2023). Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Chatbots in Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Computers, Materials & Continua, 74(3), 5105–5122. doi:10.32604/cmc.2023.034655.

Wang, X., & Cheng, Z. (2020). Cross-Sectional Studies: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Recommendations. Chest, 158(1), S65–S71. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.012.

Park, D. Y., & Kim, H. (2023). Determinants of Intentions to Use Digital Mental Healthcare Content among University Students, Faculty, and Staff: Motivation, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and Parasocial Interaction with AI Chatbot. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(1), 872. doi:10.3390/su15010872.

Lakens, D. (2022). Sample Size Justification. Collabra: Psychology, 8(1), 33267. doi:10.1525/collabra.33267.

Khawaja, Z., & Bélisle-Pipon, J. C. (2023). Your robot therapist is not your therapist: understanding the role of AI-powered mental health chatbots. Frontiers in Digital Health, 5, 1278186. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2023.1278186.

Raino, R., Kumari, N., Chandelkar, K., & Chetiwal, K. (2023). Role of artificial intelligence in psychological and mental well-being: a quantitative investigation. Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 6(2), 149-156.

Dudnik, O., Vasiljeva, M., Kuznetsov, N., Podzorova, M., Nikolaeva, I., Vatutina, L., Khomenko, E., & Ivleva, M. (2021). Trends, impacts, and prospects for implementing artificial intelligence technologies in the energy industry: The implication of open innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 7(2), 155. doi:10.3390/joitmc7020155.

Darmadi, D., Gardanova, Z. R., Mikhailova, M. V., Al-Qaim, Z. H., Kostyrin, E. V., Kosov, M. E., & Vasiljeva, M. V. (2023). Enhancing Global Health System Resilience and Sustainability Post-COVID-19: A Grounded Theory Approach. Emerging Science Journal, 7(6), 2022–2049. doi:10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-06-011.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-04-012

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Evgeniy Kostyrin, Nataliya Gilmanova, Mikhail Evgenievich Kosov, Andrey Pozdnyaev