AI Use in Healthcare: Supplementing Patient Research, Possibly Replacing Visits
TL/DR –
According to the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America, 25% of Americans use artificial intelligence (AI) tools or chatbots for health advice or information primarily to supplement their care. Most often, AI is used for self-research before or after doctor visits, but some users also resort to AI when they encounter cost, access, or quality issues in traditional healthcare. However, despite the increasing usage of AI, many Americans, about 34%, express distrust in its accuracy and only 4% strongly trust it.
Key Findings
- 59% of AI health information users research before doctor visits
- 14 million adults skipped a healthcare visit because of AI
- Only 4% strongly trust the accuracy of AI health info
The West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America reveals that 25% of Americans utilize AI tools or chatbots for health information or advice. This is mostly used as a supplementary tool for their healthcare. Over half of the users prefer to research on their own before or after consulting with a doctor.
According to a nationally representative survey of over 5,500 U.S. adults, about 70% have used an AI tool or chatbot for any purpose, with one-fourth using it for healthcare information. This is consistent with other studies on AI use for health-related purposes.
Americans Use AI to Supplement Healthcare Visits
Adults who used AI for health information in the past 30 days primarily use AI tools to research before (59%) and after (56%) visiting a doctor. Others use AI due to cost, access, or quality barriers. For instance, 14% used AI because they couldn’t afford a doctor visit, 16% due to lack of access, and 21% felt dismissed by a provider.
Regardless of the reason, 46% of Americans who utilized AI for healthcare information say it made them feel more confident when interacting with a provider. It assisted them in identifying issues earlier (22%) or avoiding unnecessary tests (19%).
Self-Directed Research Drives AI Use for Health Info
Speed and information seeking are the dominant reasons for AI use in healthcare, but motivations vary by age and income. Younger adults are more likely to use AI for self-directed research than older adults. Also, income is linked to AI use when cost, access, and quality barriers are involved.
Top Types of Health Information Americans Ask AI About
AI is mainly used to answer everyday health questions, like nutrition or exercise queries (59%), and physical symptoms (58%). Beyond gathering information on nutrition and health symptoms, AI assists users in making sense of clinical information and preparing for healthcare provider appointments.
Some Americans Use AI Instead of Seeing a Healthcare Provider
Although most Americans use AI to supplement traditional care, 14% of recent users skipped a provider visit based on AI advice. This represents 14 million adults who did not see a provider due to AI-generated health information. However, trust in this information remains mixed.
Implications
AI helps some patients navigate their healthcare experiences, serving as a routine step before or after an interaction with a provider. However, a small percentage of Americans did not see a provider they would have seen after receiving AI-generated health information. As AI becomes more integrated into health information seeking, understanding when it may supplement or substitute care will require continued attention.
Explore more at westhealth.gallup.com.
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