{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T15:54:44Z","timestamp":1762185284163,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,22]],"date-time":"2025-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1758499200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Digit. Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Some health care conversational agents (HCCAs) are designed to simulate health professionals in terms of their presentation or appearance. Research suggests that the public has favorable views toward the depiction of HCCAs as health professionals, but the views of health professionals are less clear. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study to learn more about health professionals' views on this topic.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Physicians, nurses, and regulated mental health professionals were recruited using web-based methods. Participants were interviewed individually using the Zoom videoconferencing platform. They were asked to discuss potential benefits and drawbacks surrounding the depiction of HCCAs as health professionals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and uploaded to NVivo (version 12; QSR International, Inc) for thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Twenty-four health professionals participated in the study (19 women, five men;\n                      <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                      age\u2009=\u200942.75 years,\n                      <jats:italic>SD<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200910.71). Three themes were developed from their interview data. Participants said that portraying HCCAs as health professionals is a form of misrepresentation and may mislead program users. Participants were also concerned that these depictions could draw from stereotypes regarding the appearance of health professionals, which might affect people's expectations surrounding these programs or their willingness to use them. Despite these concerns, some participants thought that there may be benefits to depicting HCCAs as health professionals, particularly in terms of providing a sense of reassurance to people seeking health support.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The health professionals in this study expressed mixed views toward the depiction of HCCAs as health professionals. Their insights may prompt further discussion on the appropriate depiction of HCCAs among developers and other stakeholders.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fdgth.2025.1590514","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,22]],"date-time":"2025-09-22T05:29:40Z","timestamp":1758518980000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring health professionals' views on the depiction of conversational agents as health professionals: a qualitative descriptive study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"A. Luke","family":"MacNeill","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Lillian","family":"MacNeill","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Alison","family":"Luke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Shelley","family":"Doucet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,22]]},"reference":[{"volume-title":"Stanfield\u2019s Introduction to Health Professions","year":"2023","author":"Cross","key":"B1"},{"year":"","key":"B2","article-title":"World Health Organization. Classifying health workers: mapping occupations to the international standard classification. World Health Organization (2019)"},{"year":"","key":"B3","article-title":"Gallup (2024)"},{"year":"","key":"B4","article-title":"Ipsos. Ipsos veracity index 2023 (2023)"},{"year":"","key":"B5","article-title":"Canadian Medical Association, Abacus Data"},{"year":"","key":"B6","article-title":"Rollins School of Public Health, Gallup"},{"volume-title":"Global teacher status index 2018","year":"2018","author":"Dolton","key":"B7"},{"volume-title":"Scientists and doctors are the most respected professions worldwide","year":"2021","author":"Smith","key":"B8"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e50767","DOI":"10.2196\/50767","article-title":"Conversational agents in health care: expert interviews to inform the definition, classification, and conceptual framework","volume":"25","author":"Martinengo","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e17158","DOI":"10.2196\/17158","article-title":"Conversational agents in health care: scoping review and conceptual analysis","volume":"22","author":"Tudor Car","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1109\/MIC.2020.3037151","article-title":"Chatbots as conversational healthcare services","volume":"25","author":"Jovanovi\u0107","year":"2021","journal-title":"IEEE Internet Comput"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eswa.2019.03.054","article-title":"Survey of conversational agents in health","volume":"129","author":"Montenegro","year":"2019","journal-title":"Expert Syst Appl"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1038\/s41746-022-00560-6","article-title":"Health-focused conversational agents in person-centered care: a review of apps","volume":"5","author":"Parmar","year":"2022","journal-title":"NPJ Digit Med"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"831","DOI":"10.11124\/JBIES-23-00029","article-title":"Depiction of conversational agents as health professionals: a scoping review","volume":"22","author":"MacNeill","year":"2024","journal-title":"JBI Evid Synth"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e18607","DOI":"10.2196\/18607","article-title":"A chatbot for perinatal women\u2019s and partners\u2019 obstetric and mental health care: development and usability evaluation study","volume":"9","author":"Chung","year":"2021","journal-title":"JMIR Med Inform"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"286","DOI":"10.4018\/978-1-5225-0778-9.ch014","article-title":"Tools for emental-health: a coping processor for adaptive and interactive mobile systems for stress management","volume-title":"Gaming and Technology Addiction: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice","author":"Kavakli","year":"2017"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104473","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijmedinf.2021.104473","article-title":"Content validation and usability of a chatbot of guidelines for wound dressing","volume":"151","author":"da Silva Lima Roque","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Med Inform"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1177\/0890117118786866","article-title":"Evaluation of a computer-based decision aid for promoting informed prostate cancer screening decisions among African American men: iDecide","volume":"33","author":"Owens","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am J Health Promot"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20552076241311066","DOI":"10.1177\/20552076241311066","article-title":"Individual differences in views toward healthcare conversational agents: a cross-sectional survey study","volume":"11","author":"MacNeill","year":"2025","journal-title":"Digit Health"},{"key":"B20","first-page":"301","article-title":"Looking the part: the effect of attire and setting on perceptions of a virtual health counselor","author":"Parmar","year":"2018"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1108\/INTR-08-2023-0702","article-title":"Bridging the health literacy gap through AI chatbot design: the impact of gender and doctor cues on chatbot trust and acceptance","author":"Jin","year":""},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e49387","DOI":"10.2196\/49387","article-title":"Health professionals\u2019 views on the use of conversational agents for health care: qualitative descriptive study","volume":"26","author":"MacNeill","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"334","DOI":"10.1002\/1098-240x(200008)23:4%3C334::aid-nur9%3E3.0.co;2-g","article-title":"Whatever happened to qualitative description?","volume":"23","author":"Sandelowski","year":"2000","journal-title":"Res Nurs Health"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1002\/nur.20362","article-title":"What\u2019s in a name? Qualitative description revisited","volume":"33","author":"Sandelowski","year":"2010","journal-title":"Res Nurs Health"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1016\/j.intcom.2009.12.001","article-title":"Response to a relational agent by hospital patients with depressive symptoms","volume":"22","author":"Bickmore","year":"2010","journal-title":"Interact Comput"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pec.2013.05.011","article-title":"Automated interventions for multiple health behaviors using conversational agents","volume":"92","author":"Bickmore","year":"2013","journal-title":"Patient Educ Couns"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.6524","article-title":"Mobile phone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a randomized waitlist controlled trial","volume":"19","author":"Horsch","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12106","DOI":"10.2196\/12106","article-title":"An empathy-driven, conversational artificial intelligence agent (Wysa) for digital mental well-being: real-world data evaluation mixed-methods study","volume":"6","author":"Inkster","year":"2018","journal-title":"JMIR Mhealth Uhealth"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e475","DOI":"10.1016\/S2589-7500(20)30189-8","article-title":"Improving the health of young African American women in the preconception period using health information technology: a randomised controlled trial","volume":"2","author":"Jack","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Digit Health"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1145\/2544103","article-title":"I can help you change! An empathic virtual agent delivers behavior change health interventions","volume":"4","author":"Lisetti","year":"2013","journal-title":"ACM Trans Manage Inf Syst"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1699","DOI":"10.1109\/JBHI.2017.2782210","article-title":"Improving health outcomes sooner rather than later via an interactive website and virtual specialist","volume":"22","author":"Richards","year":"2018","journal-title":"IEEE J Biomed Health Inform"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-69909-7_3470-2","volume-title":"Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide","author":"Braun","year":"2022"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-95579-7_3","article-title":"Safety first: conversational agents for health care","volume-title":"Studies in Conversational UX Design","author":"Bickmore","year":"2018"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e38525","DOI":"10.2196\/38525","article-title":"Design and evaluation challenges of conversational agents in health care and well-being: selective review study","volume":"24","author":"Kocaballi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e56930","DOI":"10.2196\/56930","article-title":"Roles, users, benefits, and limitations of chatbots in health care: rapid review","volume":"26","author":"Laymouna","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12996","DOI":"10.2196\/12996","article-title":"A virtual agent to support individuals living with physical and mental comorbidities: co-design and acceptability testing","volume":"21","author":"Easton","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8246","DOI":"10.1080\/10447318.2023.2279402","article-title":"Gender bias in virtual doctor interactions: gender matching effects of chatbots and users on communication satisfactions and future intentions to use the chatbot","volume":"40","author":"Jin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Hum Comput Interact"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"700","DOI":"10.12968\/bjon.2024.0022","article-title":"A scoping review exploring people\u2019s perceptions of healthcare uniforms","volume":"33","author":"Cooper","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br J Nurs"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e006578","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2014-006578","article-title":"Understanding the role of physician attire on patient perceptions: a systematic review of the literature\u2013targeting attire to improve likelihood of rapport (TAILOR) investigators","volume":"5","author":"Petrilli","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"641","DOI":"10.1007\/s11606-008-0546-8","article-title":"Desiderata or dogma: what the evidence reveals about physician attire","volume":"23","author":"Bianchi","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Gen Intern Med"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.5334\/pb.1138","article-title":"\u201cWhat if it\u2019s not just an item of clothing?\u201d A narrative review and synthesis of the white coat in the context of aged care","volume":"62","author":"Crutzen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychol Belg"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"825","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2008.05.030","article-title":"Physicians, their appearance, and the white coat","volume":"121","author":"Kazory","year":"2008","journal-title":"Am J Med"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jnma.2020.02.008","article-title":"Discrimination toward physicians of color: a systematic review","volume":"112","author":"Filut","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Natl Med Assoc"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjms.2020.10.017","article-title":"Gender disparity among American medicine and surgery physicians: a systematic review","volume":"361","author":"Lyons","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Med Sci"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"360","DOI":"10.1089\/heq.2019.0040","article-title":"Physician workforce disparities and patient care: a narrative review","volume":"3","author":"Silver","year":"2019","journal-title":"Health Equity"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"i2923","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.i2923","article-title":"Differences in incomes of physicians in the United States by race and sex: observational study","volume":"353","author":"Ly","year":"2016","journal-title":"Br Med J"},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1111\/inr.12034","article-title":"Collaboration between hospital physicians and nurses: an integrated literature review","volume":"60","author":"Tang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int Nurs Rev"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.3109\/13561820.2010.505350","article-title":"Relationships of power: implications for interprofessional education","volume":"25","author":"Baker","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Interprof Care"},{"key":"B50","unstructured":"Drewlo\n              M\n            \n          \n          Seattle\n          Antioch University Seattle\n          Factors in optimal collaboration between psychologists and primary healthcare physicians\n          \n          2014"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92882","DOI":"10.1525\/collabra.92882","article-title":"Occupational prestige: the status component of socioeconomic status","volume":"10","author":"Hughes","year":"2024","journal-title":"Collabra Psychol"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"587","DOI":"10.13075\/mp.5893.00863","article-title":"Prestige of selected medical professions in the opinion of representatives of these professions","volume":"70","author":"Janus","year":"2019","journal-title":"Med Pr"},{"volume-title":"Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System","year":"2023","author":"Shi","key":"B53"},{"volume-title":"Health and Health Care Delivery in Canada","year":"2023","author":"Thompson","key":"B54"},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100044","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijnsa.2021.100044","article-title":"Job titles and education requirements of registered nurses in primary care: an international document analysis","volume":"3","author":"Barrett","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Nurs Stud Adv"},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E305","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.109-5303","article-title":"Who is entitled to the title of \u201cdoctor\u201d?","volume":"188","author":"Collier","year":"2016","journal-title":"CMAJ"},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1027\/1016-9040.13.1.53","article-title":"Psychology and psychotherapy in health care: a review of legal regulations in 17 European countries","volume":"13","author":"Van Broeck","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur Psychol"},{"volume-title":"Women Working in Paid Care Occupations","year":"2022","author":"Khanam","key":"B58"},{"year":"","key":"B59","article-title":"Canadian Institute for Health Information (2022)"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Digital Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fdgth.2025.1590514\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T15:16:39Z","timestamp":1762182999000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fdgth.2025.1590514\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,22]]},"references-count":59,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fdgth.2025.1590514"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fdgth.2025.1590514","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-253X"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2673-253X"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,22]]},"article-number":"1590514"}}