Gennaro LAUS, Gabriella SPAGNUOLO
Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing - 2026;34(1):1-8
AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots in virtual nursing care at home, comparing them with traditional care, in terms of therapeutic adherence and improvement of clinical outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on March 7, 2025, according to the the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The databases consulted were PubMed (Medline) and the Cochrane Library. Studies published since 2020 in Italian or English were included. After the screening process, six studies dealing directly or indirectly with the use of AI in home nursing consultation were included. RESULTS: The analysis shows that chatbots and AI systems improve monitoring, therapeutic adherence, and access to healthcare services. Specifically, AI-based nutritional models showed improved anthropometric and biochemical indicators and a reduction in nutritional risk in patients with chronic kidney disease. Smart home systems have improved the timeliness of clinical event detection and the nurse's decision-making role; medication support robots have reduced nursing workload and improved therapeutic safety. Critical issues related to training, professional acceptance, and technological infrastructure have emerged, limiting the full integration of AI into home care. CONCLUSION: This review highlights a growing interest in integrating AI into home nursing care, with promising preliminary results. The study fills a gap in the literature by identifying current trends, benefits, and limitations and highlights the need for further clinical research to validate the effectiveness of AI-based nursing chatbots.
