Students’ perceptions of AI mental health chatbots: an exploratory qualitative study at Sultan Qaboos University

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions, attitudes and previous experiences of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) students towards artificial intelligence (AI) mental health chatbots. DESIGN: The study was conducted as an exploratory qualitative study, involving focus group discussions (FGDs). SETTING: The study was conducted at SQU. All FGDs were conducted via Google Meet. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 60 students were recruited through convenience sampling. Both male and female students from different colleges were enrolled in the study. 10 FGDs were conducted. RESULTS: The interview findings revealed that most students were open to using AI mental health chatbots, with many already having used similar applications. Participants listed several benefits that such applications could have, including increased availability, reduced stigma and behaviour tracking. The participants also raised some concerns about such applications, including data security, cultural sensitivity and various ethical issues. CONCLUSION: The future of AI chatbots for mental health is promising, as they have the potential to enhance mental healthcare services. Now that we know the disadvantages and limitations that may be associated with the use of such apps, it would be easier to design suitable apps that can properly triage mental health issues and provide supportive mental health.

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