Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
PatientsLikeMe now has a new A.I. Personal Health Navigator specifically trained to help people manage their health more effectively! Called Ella, this new interface is a great source of information for people to turn to when they have questions about treatments, symptoms, or roadblocks in their care. You may have noticed chatbots popping up across different sites over the past few years. With advancements in A.I., a large number of companies now offer you the option to talk to a bot instead of waiting to speak with a live customer-service representative. This has tremendous upside, particularly in healthcare.
They are available 24/7, and can reduce the waiting time to get answers on something you need clarified quickly. The anonymity and quick assistance they provide is a huge benefit to many patients. But one thing that people have made clear over the last few years is that these chatbots also come with questions. They aren't a person, and for many it can feel strange talking to a program about such personal information. We are here to tell you about why you should consider using Ella to help manage your health, explain how it works, and give you guidance on how to approach your conversations.
What is a Chatbot?
Chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate conversation. This lets them answer questions or carry out tasks. They can be as simple as customer support bots on a website that direct you to a help page, or as advanced as personal digital assistants, like Siri or Alexa. These can manage tasks, answer questions, or even control other devices in your home.
How Chatbots Work
There are two main types of chatbots: rule-based and AI-powered chatbots.
- Rule-Based Chatbots: These are like interactive question-answer machines. They work by following specific rules set by their designers. When a user types or says something, the chatbot looks for certain keywords or phrases and gives a pre-determined response. For example, if you say “I’m having trouble logging in,” a rule-based bot might recognize “trouble logging in” and suggest a solution. They’re great for simple tasks but are limited when it comes to complex topics.
- AI-Powered Chatbots: These use a type of advanced artificial intelligence called large language models (LLMs). LLMs are special types of A.I. that have been trained on large amounts of data, often pulled from the internet or specific knowledge bases. This lets the chatbot understand and generate human-like responses to a wide variety of questions. Instead of just following set rules, these bots “learn” from the data they’ve been given, making them capable of engaging in more flexible, realistic conversations. ChatGPT is an example of a chatbot powered by an LLM.
Large Language Models (LLMs)
To break down what makes LLMs work, imagine you’re teaching a program to read and respond to text. Developers give the program a huge amount of written information. The program then uses this data to pick up patterns in how people communicate. Over time, it learns to respond in a way that sounds natural. LLMs use something called deep learning, which allows them to recognize context, so they can figure out what someone means even if the question is phrased in an unusual way. In short, LLMs are like very smart language experts inside the chatbot. They help it make sense of your questions and respond. The more information these models are trained on, the better they can understand and respond accurately to different types of questions.
Tips on How to Use Chatbots for Healthcare Questions
To best outline how to approach talking to Ella, let's use two patients as examples. The first is a patient taking diuretics to help manage their high blood pressure. The second is a woman struggling with mental health issues. Here is what they should do.
1. Be Clear and Specific
If you are looking for healthcare advice, you need to outline a few parameters first:
- Medication
- Purpose
- Symptoms
In the case of the patient on diuretics, by specifying the medication (diuretic), purpose (high blood pressure), and symptoms (dizziness and dehydration), they can set up the chatbot to give focused advice on particular side effects. For mental health concerns, the second patient should be clear about specific symptoms and mention where they are in their care. If they have not seen a doctor, this can help the chatbot focus on general information about mental health without making assumptions.
Patient on Diuretics
- "I was prescribed a diuretic to treat my high blood pressure and am feeling dizzy and dehydrated. Could you explain why this might be happening and what I can do to manage these side effects?"
Patient with Mental Health Concerns
- "I'm feeling sad, having trouble sleeping, and have a lack of motivation. I haven’t seen a doctor about this yet but am wondering if these could be signs of depression or something else?"
2. Prioritize Questions
What everyone wants most of all is to get practical tips on how to manage whatever it is they need addressed. You should clearly outline how a side effect or symptom is impacting them and ask for help. Let's say your main concern is finding ways to cope with the impact of the symptoms on daily life. You should make sure the chatbot knows to focus on immediate self-help strategies.
Patient on Diuretics
- "Dizziness is really interfering with my day. Could you suggest ways to prevent it, or let me know if it’s something I need to worry about?"
Patient with Mental Health Concerns
- "My low motivation and sadness have been making daily activities hard. Could you give me some ideas on coping strategies I could try at home?"
3. Set Realistic Expectations
Setting expectations lets the chatbot know you are looking for general information rather than a substitute for medical advice. The chatbot can offer broad advice on managing symptoms without taking the place of a doctor. By setting realistic expectations, you can clarify you are looking for information to better understand symptoms, not a diagnosis. This also opens the door for the chatbot to mention when seeking professional help might be helpful!
Patient on Diuretics
- "I know you can’t replace my doctor, but could you tell me if dizziness is common with diuretics? Also, is there a standard approach to managing dehydration for people on this medication?"
Patient with Mental Health Concerns
- "I realize you can’t diagnose or treat me, but could you explain what signs are often associated with depression in older adults? And should I be thinking about seeing a doctor if this continues?"
4. Use Follow-Up Questions for Clarification
Follow-up questions can help you understand guidance while also addressing any concerns you still have! If a piece of advice is confusing or seems counterintuitive, you can ask for more details. This lets the chatbot refine its advice accordingly. By asking for more information on the types of professional help available, you can also get clearer guidance on what steps to take if you choose to pursue professional help for symptoms.
Patient on Diuretics
- "You mentioned that drinking more water might help with dehydration. Can you clarify how much water is safe for someone on diuretics? I don’t want to overdo it."
Patient with Mental Health Concerns
- "You mentioned that talking to a mental health professional could be helpful. Could you explain the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist, and how to decide which one to see?"
5. Summarize, summarize, summarize
A summary helps ensure you have understood the advice correctly. If a wire was crossed or they failed to read something correctly, this is where the chatbot can set the record straight. It can also help lay out next steps.
Patient on Diuretics
- "So if I understand correctly, I should try to drink small amounts of water regularly throughout the day to help with dehydration. And if the dizziness persists, I should check in with my doctor. Does that sound right?"
Patient with Mental Health Concerns
- "Just to confirm, it sounds like these feelings might be related to depression, especially since I’ve had them for a while. You suggested trying some coping strategies and considering a doctor’s visit if it continues. Is that right?"
If you are considering interacting with Ella, we encourage you to try! She’s here to help you find the community support, tools, and resources you need to improve your well-being. Ella is powered by the experiences and insights of hundreds of thousands of PatientsLikeMe members. Her advice and recommendations are shaped by the information shared by the community so she can offer personalized suggestions and support tailored to you. Plus, she is continuously updated with the latest research and information by a team of experts, ensuring her knowledge remains accurate and current.
Taking control of your health has never been easier with PatientsLikeMe, a platform that empowers you to manage your wellness journey proactively. By joining a community who share your experiences and insights, you gain access to invaluable support and information tailored to your unique health needs. PatientsLikeMe offers tools to track your symptoms, treatments, and outcomes, enabling you to make informed decisions and communicate better with your healthcare providers. Additionally, evaluate the effectiveness of various treatments through shared patient data, ensuring you choose the best options for your health.