Evolution of Chatbots in Nursing Education: Narrative Review.

Background: The integration of chatbots in nursing education is a rapidly evolving area with potential transformative impacts. This narrative review aims to synthesize and analyze the existing literature on chatbots in nursing education.

Objective: This study aims to comprehensively examine the temporal trends, international distribution, study designs, and implications of chatbots in nursing education.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across 3 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase) following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram.

Results: A total of 40 articles met the eligibility criteria, with a notable increase of publications in 2023 (n=28, 70%). Temporal analysis revealed a notable surge in publications from 2021 to 2023, emphasizing the growing scholarly interest. Geographically, Taiwan province made substantial contributions (n=8, 20%), followed by the United States (n=6, 15%) and South Korea (n=4, 10%). Study designs varied, with reviews (n=8, 20%) and editorials (n=7, 18%) being predominant, showcasing the richness of research in this domain.

Conclusions: Integrating chatbots into nursing education presents a promising yet relatively unexplored avenue. This review highlights the urgent need for original research, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations.