Rule based chatbot design methods: A review

Abstract

The use of chatbots in various sectors including the health sector is becoming important. Rule based chatbots are one of the commonly used chatbots which is easier to implement and with less error. For example, in assisting by providing preliminary diagnostics to the youth and advising them to provide appropriate medical care and awareness creation. In resource limited environment where there is a shortage of medical experts as well as other resources, rule based chatbot can be a supportive tool to support patients and health workers. In addition, in infections like sexually transmitted infections, having an anonymous chatbot is ideal for supporting the youth who fear to openly visit health centers due to stigma and discrimination. Hence, a rule based chatbot can be designed to support them in providing preliminary diagnostics, advising them to visit health centers as well as creating awareness from reliable sources. Hence, this paper, reviews key rule based chatbot design approaches, their advantages and disadvantages.