According to a recent survey, a growing number of Americans are relying on social media and health-related websites for medical advice instead of consulting healthcare professionals. The poll, which involved 2,000 adults, found that a significant portion of individuals seek “accurate” health information online before approaching their doctors.
Use if AI increasingly growing in medical field
Surprisingly, more people turn to healthcare websites (53%) and social media (46%) than consult a real-life physician (44%). Furthermore, around 73% of respondents believe they have a better understanding of their health than their own doctors.
The survey conducted by OnePoll for UserTesting revealed varying levels of trust in artificial intelligence (AI) across different countries. The study, which involved 1,000 British adults and 1,000 Australian adults, found that 44% of Brits and 27% of Australians would not trust AI to handle any health-related tasks. In contrast, only 6% of Americans expressed similar concerns about AI. This indicates a disparity in the public’s confidence in AI when it comes to healthcare between these countries.
Many respondents prefer seeking information online or using ChatGPT instead of consulting their doctor due to reasons such as a lack of understanding about healthcare insurance coverage (57%), embarrassment about their symptoms (51%), or the desire for a second opinion (45%).
Americans preferring AI for medical assistance
The PX, or patient experience, encompasses more than the patient-provider relationship, according to Lija Hogan, spokesperson for UserTesting. Healthcare journeys involve digital touchpoints beyond scheduling appointments, with Americans relying on AI to navigate complex experiences and access trustworthy information.
According to the survey, respondents trust AI for recommending treatment plans (53%), scheduling doctor appointments (52%), coordinating with pharmacies for prescriptions (47%), monitoring sleeping patterns (53%), heart rate (51%), blood pressure (42%), and fertility information (40%).
Approximately 23% of respondents express trust in AI for diagnosing medical conditions, including chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes (48%), COVID-19 (42%), and colds and flus (40%). Beyond AI, trust extends to major tech companies handling personal health data, with Google (54%), Apple (47%), Fitbit (34%), Amazon (31%), and Meta (25%) being trusted by many.