A recent study published in JAMA Network Open revealed that a majority of adults have low trust in their health care systems when it comes to using artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly and without causing harm. The research found that 65.8% of adults surveyed expressed low trust in their health care systems to handle AI responsibly, while 57.7% had concerns about potential harm caused by AI tools.
The study, conducted by Jodyn Platt, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan Medical School and Paige Nong, Ph.D., from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, surveyed a nationally representative sample of adults from the National Opinion Research Center’s AmeriSpeak Panel in June to July 2023. The findings indicated that individuals with higher overall trust in their health care systems were more likely to believe that their providers would protect them from AI-related harm.
Interestingly, the research also showed that female respondents were less likely than male respondents to trust their health care systems in the context of AI. Surprisingly, health literacy and AI knowledge did not have a significant impact on trust levels, suggesting that building trust in AI usage will require more meaningful engagement and communication from health systems.
The authors recommended that future research should focus on studying trust levels over time and with increased familiarity with AI. Additionally, health systems that incorporate AI tools should work on enhancing their communication efforts about the use of these technologies in patient care.
For more information, the study titled “Patients’ Trust in Health Systems to Use Artificial Intelligence” can be accessed in JAMA Network Open. The DOI for the research is 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.60628. Further details about the study can be found on the JAMA Network Open website.
In conclusion, the study sheds light on the importance of building trust in health care systems’ use of AI and highlights the need for better communication and engagement strategies to address patient concerns. By fostering trust and transparency, health systems can ensure the responsible and beneficial integration of AI technologies in patient care.
