A recent survey conducted by Propeller Insights indicates that three out of four Americans mistrust artificial intelligence (AI) when used in a healthcare setting, while almost four out of five patients report not knowing if their provider uses the technology.
The online survey polled more than 1000 consumers in the US. Of those surveyed, 57% said they believe they have a good understanding of AI and how it is used in healthcare, but only 38% of respondents said they trust the technology.
Meanwhile, when asked if they would be comfortable with AI being used in healthcare, consumers polled were roughly split down the middle, even if it would help improve diagnostic accuracy. Regardless of its actual use, concerns and scepticism remain. In total, 61% said they trust that their provider would use the technology properly, while another 63% said they are worried that AI could result in less face time with their physician. Moreover, 80% reported that they would like to be informed if AI is being used within a practice.
100% of healthcare providers are using AI
By contrast, Carta healthcare responded to the survey saying “100% of healthcare providers are using AI and have been for a long time.”
Matt Hollingsworth, chief executive at Carta healthcare, said the survey shows that the “healthcare industry needs to educate Americans about the benefits of AI to improve trust and comfort with its use.” He believes “AI can help providers improve patient care and outcomes, but it will best succeed if patients understand that it’s used as an assistive tool, not as a replacement for human interpretation and decisions.”
Trust in AI is low, but Americans are willing to learn more, and education could improve trust
Despite the relatively low sentiment among consumers, the survey revealed that Americans are willing to learn more about AI advances, which could improve their level of trust and comfort. Of the respondents, 47% said they would be more likely to trust the technology if they were more knowledgeable of it, while 65% said they would be more comfortable with its use if their healthcare providers explained how it works.
AI has had a huge impact on the healthcare industry, where its application to huge amounts of patient data is resulting in transformative improvements across all aspects of care, from surgery to primary care, billing to administration.
However, survey data like this highlights that the industry needs to be more proactive in the ways that it is educating patients regarding the use of AI within the health environment. Transparency, understanding, and accountability are all essential factors in today’s modern, responsible AI organisation.
Healthcare needs to make the necessary steps to improve the way it manages the implementation of AI to ensure that the true benefits of the technology can be realised.
This content was generated with the assistance of AI tools. However, it has undergone thorough human review, editing, and approval to ensure its accuracy, coherence, and quality. While AI technology played a role in its creation, the final version reflects the expertise and judgment of our human editors.
