Digital oncology: the potential of telemedicine and artificial intelligence to improve access to care

Abstract

Objective: To determine the attitudes and willingness of oncology patients to use a chatbot as a complementary support tool in managing the side effects of systemic treatment and to assess its potential for improving patient support during treatment.

Methodology: The research is based on a quantitative approach using a survey questionnaire. We included patients who visited the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana to receive prescribed systemic therapy. We distributed 700 surveys, which was a convenience sample, as it included patients, who were willing to participate at the time of data collection and met the inclusion criteria.

Results: Data collection took place between April 6th and April 11th, 2026. From 700 surveys distributed, 524 properly completed questionnaires were included in the analysis (response rate 75%). 41.2% of patients would be willing to use telemedicine services as part of their treatment. The use of chatbots as a tool to help reduce uncertainty and stress when new questions arise was positively supported by 34.7% of patients. The likelihood of accepting telemedicine services is higher (p < 0.001) in patients who assess out-of-hours need counselling as important.

Conclusions: The digital literacy of oncology patients and their willingness to use telemedicine services and chatbots is still relatively low, which limits the exploitation of the potential of these technologies in clinical practice. The findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions and an active role of healthcare professionals in empowering patients to use digital solutions safely and effectively.