Hassani M, Young SD. Potential Role of Conversational Agents in Encouraging PrEP Uptake. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2022:1-7. doi:10.1007/s11414-022-09798-0
This article outlines several key barriers to PrEP use and how tailored conversational agents may help overcome them. The authors suggest that the time is right to implement conversational agents for promoting PrEP adherence. Not only has the public incorporated conversational agents in their daily lives, i.e., Alexa and Siri, but virtual assistants have also already been used to promote HIV testing. Current barriers to PrEP use include stigma, provider bias, distrust of the healthcare system, and knowledge gaps that lead to a heightened perception of risk. Conversational agents, like AI-driven chatbots, can help individuals seeking PrEP feel more comfortable communicating that request, eliminating the risk of judgment from a provider. As users have previously reported trusting conversational agents, this also allows these agents to dispel myths and misinformation about PrEP. Beyond general misinformation, conversational agents can be developed to provide risk assessments and correct individuals’ incorrect self-assessments of their own risk without judgment. Overall, conversational agents may be a great future direction for overcoming barriers to PrEP use. They are a multi-platform, quick, personalized, trusted, scalable, multi-modality tool that can provide information, access to care, and assessment. As a final note, the authors caution that conversational agents should be constructed with appropriate social and behavioral science theory.