{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]],"date-time":"2026-10-06T07:05:57Z","timestamp":1791270357445,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Hum Factors"],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have been customized to deliver on-demand support for people with mental health problems. However, the effectiveness of AI chatbots in tackling mental health problems among the general public in Hong Kong remains unclear.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study aimed to develop a local AI chatbot and compare the effectiveness of the AI chatbot with a conventional nurse hotline in reducing the level of anxiety and depression among individuals in Hong Kong.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n \n This study was a pilot randomized controlled trial conducted from October 2022 to March 2023, involving 124 participants allocated randomly (1:1 ratio) into the AI chatbot and nurse hotline groups. Among these, 62 participants in the AI chatbot group and 41 in the nurse hotline group completed both the pre- and postquestionnaires, including the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7), PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and satisfaction questionnaire. Comparisons were conducted using independent and paired sample\n t<\/jats:italic>\n tests (2-tailed) and the\n \u03c7<\/jats:italic>\n 2<\/jats:sup>\n test to analyze changes in anxiety and depression levels.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n Compared to the mean baseline score of 5.13 (SD 4.623), the mean postdepression score in the chatbot group was 3.68 (SD 4.397), which was significantly lower (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n =.008). Similarly, a reduced anxiety score was also observed after the chatbot test (pre vs post: mean 4.74, SD 4.742 vs mean 3.4, SD 3.748;\n P<\/jats:italic>\n =.005), respectively. No significant differences were found in the pre-post scores for either depression (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n =.38) or anxiety (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n =.19). No statistically significant difference was observed in service satisfaction between the two platforms (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n =.32).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n The AI chatbot was comparable to the traditional nurse hotline in alleviating participants\u2019 anxiety and depression after responding to inquiries. Moreover, the AI chatbot has shown potential in alleviating short-term anxiety and depression compared to the nurse hotline. While the AI chatbot presents a promising solution for offering accessible strategies to the public, more extensive randomized controlled studies are necessary to further validate its effectiveness.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/65785","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,6]],"date-time":"2025-03-06T15:29:26Z","timestamp":1741274966000},"page":"e65785-e65785","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":36,"title":["Comparison of an AI Chatbot With a Nurse Hotline in Reducing Anxiety and Depression Levels in the General Population: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3119-5010","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chen","family":"Chen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2937-3292","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kok Tai","family":"Lam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1577-3431","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ka Man","family":"Yip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6188-7587","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hung Kwan","family":"So","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1196-5345","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Terry Yat Sang","family":"Lum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8242-0014","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ian Chi Kei","family":"Wong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2156-1486","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jason C","family":"Yam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1513-8726","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Celine Sze Ling","family":"Chui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6797-6898","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patrick","family":"Ip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1","unstructured":"Mental health review report. Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. 2017. 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Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. 2023. URL: https:\/\/www.med.cuhk.edu.hk\/press-releases\/cuhk-nursing-develops-mobile-app-pai-act-the-first-ai-driven-cantonese-psychological-support-tool-for-parents-of-sen-children-in-hong-kong [Accessed 15-07-2024]"},{"key":"R12","unstructured":"CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. EQUATOR Network. 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