Patient reservations persist regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in healthcare, despite recognizing its potential. Survey data highlights concerns about misinformation, sourcing reliability, and transparency. Transparency and sourcing accuracy from reputable health IT companies enhance patient confidence. While 44% express concern and 27% are nervous, 20% show excitement for GenAI. Respondents anticipate its integration in the next 2-5 years, foreseeing its inevitability. To ensure acceptance, GenAI must rely on credible data sources and reputable developers, as advocated by Wolters Kluwer Health.
As healthcare embraces Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), patient concerns about its integration persist. Survey data from Wolters Kluwer Health uncovers apprehensions surrounding GenAI’s potential misinformation, sourcing credibility, and transparency issues. While acknowledging its forthcoming role, patients emphasize trust and reliability concerns. Transparency and reliance on reputable health IT companies assuage worries, reflecting an evolving perspective. This paper delves into patient attitudes, concerns, and anticipations surrounding GenAI in healthcare, aiming to discern actionable strategies for enhancing patient trust and responsible integration.
Survey data from Wolters Kluwer Health reveals that while 40% of adults believe GenAI is poised for a significant role in healthcare, a majority remain apprehensive regarding the reliability and sourcing of medical information powering these AI tools.
The survey of 1,000 adult healthcare consumers underscores the necessity for transparency in the integration of GenAI within healthcare settings.
Greg Samios, President and CEO of Clinical Effectiveness at Wolters Kluwer Health, emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing public concerns about GenAI use in healthcare. He stated, “Responsible testing and utilizing current, extensively vetted content developed by credible medical experts is crucial to foster acceptance of this new technology in clinical settings.”
Despite acknowledging the inevitability of GenAI’s involvement in healthcare, patient respondents harbor concerns, primarily centered around trust in the technology.
The survey highlights that 80% of respondents express apprehension upon learning that GenAI is utilized in their healthcare. Nearly half (49%) worry that GenAI might generate erroneous medical information.
The overarching concerns revolve around uncertainties regarding the origin and validation of the data used to train GenAI. 86% are troubled by the lack of information about the sourcing and validation methods of GenAI’s training data, while 82% perceive potential issues if GenAI is trained on unfiltered internet searches lacking vetting.
However, respondents indicate specific factors that could enhance their confidence in GenAI. A vast majority (86%) prefer knowing that GenAI’s training data originates from reliable medical sources. Additionally, 81% express greater comfort using a tool developed by a reputable health IT company.
Interestingly, when considering the involvement of a reputable health IT company in GenAI development, concerns among respondents decreased to three in five, emphasizing the significance of credibility and source transparency.
Despite reservations – with 44% expressing concern and 27% feeling nervous about GenAI implementation – respondents display an open-minded approach. Approximately one-fifth express excitement about GenAI’s potential in healthcare, while a third are curious about its capabilities.
Anticipating the inevitability of GenAI in healthcare, a fifth of respondents foresee its integration into patient-provider interactions within the next two years. Furthermore, 34% anticipate its widespread use within the subsequent three to five years, with only a minimal 5% dismissing its potential application altogether.
For healthcare organizations and IT vendors, ensuring GenAI’s acceptance among patients is contingent on maintaining fidelity to these tools. Wolters Kluwer Health concludes that guaranteeing the medical accuracy of GenAI’s training data and collaborating with reputable health IT vendors will be pivotal steps in mitigating patient concerns and facilitating the responsible integration of GenAI into healthcare settings.
Despite acknowledging Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) as an imminent part of healthcare, patient concerns about misinformation and reliability persist. Transparency in data sourcing and partnerships with reputable health IT companies alleviate apprehensions, fostering patient confidence. While 44% express concern and 27% are nervous, 20% exhibit excitement for GenAI. Respondents anticipate its integration in the next 2-5 years, emphasizing its inevitability. To ensure patient acceptance, GenAI must prioritize credible data sources and collaborations with esteemed developers, as highlighted by Wolters Kluwer Health, facilitating its responsible and trusted integration into healthcare systems.
