Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42040785›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in digital health2026

Creating customized chatbots with ChatGPT to promote physical activity: a mini review.

Liam O'Malley, Aidan Halley, Amanda Willms, India Edwards, Sam Liu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in digital health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Liam O'MalleySchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Aidan HalleySchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Amanda WillmsSchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
India EdwardsSchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Sam LiuSchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT offer a promising approach for delivering scalable, personalized physical activity interventions. Despite growing interest in applying these tools to health behaviour change, concerns remain regarding accuracy, safety, hallucinations, privacy, and theoretical grounding. This mini-review summarizes current methods for creating customized ChatGPT-based chatbots for physical activity promotion and outlines approaches for evaluating their performance. A literature search was conducted across five databases, white papers, and OpenAI technical reports. Three primary customization strategies were identified: retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), system prompt engineering, and fine-tuning. RAG enhances accuracy by grounding responses in curated guidelines and behaviour-change frameworks. System prompts define the chatbot's role, tone, and reasoning logic. Fine-tuning adapts the model's communication style using expert-crafted prompt-response pairs. These methods can be implemented independently or in combination, depending on intervention goals. Evaluation of customized chatbots requires both intrinsic model-based testing and extrinsic human-centred assessment. Additional considerations include protecting user privacy by avoiding collecting identifiable data, implementing data-minimization safeguards, and managing token-based operational costs associated with ChatGPT systems. Customized ChatGPT chatbots offer substantial potential for advancing physical activity promotion; however, safe and effective deployment requires thoughtful design, rigorous evaluation, and careful attention to privacy and cost.

Indexed as

AIAI and healthcareartificial intelligencebehaviour changechatbotChatGPTcustom*

Identifiers

PMID42040785
PMCPMC13106376

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.