Page 123 - EJMO-9-1

Eurasian Journal of Medicine
and Oncology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Advancing oncology care with AI-powered

virtual assistants and chatbots: A qualitative
exploration of future potential and challenges

1
Hemalatha Senthilmahesh * , Muthuvairavan Pillai Nagappan 2 ,
Somavarapu N. C. Shekhar 3 , Anbarasa A. Pandian 1 ,
Pullela S. V. V. S. R. Kumar 4 , and Ramesh Tumaati 5

1 Department of Computer Science and Business Systems, Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Computer Science and Business Systems, R.M.D. Engineering College, Tiruvallur,
Tamil Nadu, India
3 Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Sreenidhi Institute of Science and
Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
4 Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Aditya University, Surampalem, Andhra Pradesh,
India
5 Department of Computer Science and Engineering, R.M.K. Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, India

*Corresponding author:
Hemalatha Senthilmahesh
(pithemalatha@gmail.com) Abstract
Citation: Senthilmahesh H, The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) through virtual assistants and chatbots is
Nagappan MP, Shekhar SNC,
Pandian AA, Kumar PSVVSR, transforming oncology care by providing continuous, personalized, and accessible
Tumaati R Advancing oncology care support. This study aims to evaluate the role of AI-powered tools in improving
with AI-powered virtual assistants patient engagement, symptom management, emotional support, and treatment
and chatbots: A qualitative
exploration of future potential and adherence in oncology. A qualitative methodology was employed, which included
challenges. Eurasian J Med Oncol. an extensive review of peer-reviewed literature from 2015 to 2023 and the
2025;9(1):115-132. development of a conceptual framework for oncology-specific chatbot systems.
doi: 10.36922/ejmo.6251
This framework incorporates natural language processing, machine learning, and
Received: November 19, 2024 personalized response algorithms. Key findings from this study indicate that these
1st revised: December 14, 2024 AI tools enhance access to healthcare information, empower patients, and reduce
the burden on healthcare systems, particularly in remote or underserved regions.
2nd revised: December 22, 2024
However, challenges remain concerning data privacy, accuracy, and the need for
Accepted: January 2, 2025 human intervention in complex cases. The study underscores the importance of
Published online: January 21, maintaining a balance between innovative AI applications and human-centered
2025 care, advocating the integration of AI-based technologies as complementary tools
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). in oncology.
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Virtual assistants; Chatbots; Oncology care; Patient
License, permitting distribution, support; Personalized healthcare; AI in cancer care
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with 1. Introduction
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Oncology is a specialized branch of medicine focused on the study, diagnosis, and
affiliations. treatment of cancer. It encompasses a variety of approaches aimed at addressing the

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2025) 115 doi: 10.36922/ejmo.6251