Conversational artificial intelligence: the interface with the patient concerns inventory

The patient concerns inventory (PCI) allows patients to highlight the issues they would like to discuss at their outpatient consultation. It improves patient-clinician communication and has proven benefits. While the PCI is effective, patient experiences could be improved with better access to it and the ability to more easily and frequently express their concerns. This, of course, is in the context of ever-increasing healthcare challenges and limited resources. Use of conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) represents an opportunity to improve information flow between patients and professionals remote from the consultation. This paper highlights the potential for CAI to provide an ‘always-on’ platform, using natural language interface technology and based on the PCI, which patients can access via their mobile devices. We also discuss potential pitfalls and concerns, along with outlining a current clinical trial assessing, in the first instance, usability of this technology.