In February and March 2024, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted a survey to understand how adults aged 50 and older gather and trust health information. A surprising finding was that a significant majority of these older adults remain very skeptical about AI-generated health information. About 74% expressed little to no trust in AI, with only 1% considering it very trustworthy. Alongside that, there is a demonstrated link between the public’s levels of trust in AI and health literacy.
I, for one, am not surprised. As a writer with a health background, I’ve been following the development of AI-generated information for the last couple of years. It has been widely noted that it can present misinformation as facts and that a professional must thoroughly review and fact-check whatever it yields. So, I would like to clarify the areas in which AI can actually be useful in providing information relating to health and could play a part in improving health literacy for older Americans.
What is Health Literacy?
Health literacy refers to the ability to find, understand, and use health information to make informed choices and take actions that benefit health. Health literacy isn’t just about accessing information; it’s also about effectively communicating one’s health needs and being able to evaluate the information provided critically.
The survey results underscore the need for improved health literacy, especially among older adults who often feel less confident in identifying and using health information. This lack of confidence is more common in individuals with fair or poor memory and health, lower education levels, or lower incomes.
Older Americans with lower health literacy might face negative consequences. They may not take recommended preventive steps or could struggle to follow their doctor’s advice. This can also make it harder for them to manage chronic illnesses and notice warning signals for health problems.
People can have trouble understanding health information when:
- They aren’t all that familiar with medical terms, especially concerning how bodies work.
- They need to weigh the risks and benefits of proposed therapies for their health and safety.
- They feel scared and confused about their diagnosis.
- They are stressed when they have to make important health decisions.
- They have a condition that may need complex self-care.
How Can Health Literacy Be Improved?
Improving health literacy means helping both people and organizations understand health information better. Organizations can improve by making communication clearer, offering information that fits different cultures and languages, and training healthcare workers to communicate better. For individuals, teaching health from a young age in schools and continuing through adulthood can help build strong health skills.
Finding & Identifying Accurate Health Information
The survey showed that about one-fifth of people aged 50 and older said they didn’t feel very confident in their ability to spot misinformation about health issues. Another 60% felt somewhat confident, and the remainder felt they were able to identify misinformation. Older adults with fair or poor memory (35%), physical health (28%), mental health (28%), or a severe disability (25%) were more likely to lack confidence. Those with lower household incomes or lower levels of education also tended to feel less confident. This indicates a need to improve health literacy in older Americans, particularly in disadvantaged or marginalized groups.
How Can AI Tools Improve Health Literacy?
AI tools could help people with all levels of health literacy access and use health information. Such AI applications are now often seen on health websites and built into apps. Healthcare providers, community groups, and family members can support older adults in navigating health information, helping them understand how AI tools can be used effectively alongside the skills of trained professionals.
Healthcare providers can also help older adults who struggle to find reliable health information by steering them to sources that have been specifically designed for non-professional users. These sources can simplify the material by using clear language and adding visuals like pictures, videos, tables, charts, and graphics. Such tools can help people with lower health literacy to better understand health information, make choices, and take action. Giving a spoken summary through a recording or offering follow-up calls can also help patients.
AI Technology and Its Applications in Healthcare
While older Americans may be wary of AI, it has become a critical tool in modern healthcare. AI is utilized in a wide range of applications, from diagnostics to patient care improvements.
AI in Diagnostics
AI technology is revolutionizing diagnostic procedures by enhancing accuracy and efficiency. For example, it has been found that AI can analyze MRIs or X-rays faster and more accurately than human specialists. It is often used to provide a second opinion, working alongside radiologists to detect issues like bone fractures or subtle changes in breast tissue that might indicate cancer. By reducing the number of callbacks and improving specificity, AI helps radiologists make more accurate diagnoses.
AI in Patient Care
AI assists in patient care by organizing and prioritizing cases based on urgency. This is particularly valuable in emergency situations, such as strokes, where quick action is crucial. AI technology can identify patients in need of immediate attention, alert medical teams, and streamline the coordination of care, ensuring timely interventions.
AI in Research and Treatment
AI is also transforming medical research and treatment strategies. It enables healthcare providers to gather and analyze vast amounts of data, uncovering previously inaccessible insights. For instance, AI-powered robots can perform a variety of surgical procedures, and AI tools can analyze surgeries in real time to anticipate the next steps and provide guidance to the surgeon. Ambient clinical intelligence (ACI) is an AI technology that automatically captures critical medical information from patient-physician interactions and analyzes these conversations to generate a concise clinical note.
Exercising “due care” in the use of Artificial Intelligence
As we shared previously, at IsraelPharm, we use technology to help us deliver a seamless experience to our customers. We also use AI to enhance our operations, especially in service, logistics, and shipping. At the same time, we also focus heavily on our human resources. Our health information and customer support team has experts in pharmaceuticals, health, and wellness. As technology advances, we promise to ensure that human interactions remain the #1 priority, with people always available to help others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace healthcare workers?
AI is becoming more deeply integrated in healthcare, but the purpose is to support doctors and healthcare workers, not to replace them. The benefits come from people and AI working together, using the doctors’ expertise, and supporting this with AI’s analytic power.
Is AI in healthcare ethical?
The way Artificial Intelligence is applied raises important legal and ethical issues for society. Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare can be ethical when it’s designed and used properly, but it can also pose ethical challenges.
Some of the considerations when evaluating AI from the standpoint of ethics include avoiding infringing on the patient’s rights. AI systems should maintain transparency and consent in interactions with patients. Healthcare providers that are incorporating AI should promote equitable access to healthcare services. Patients should be aware that AI is part of their diagnostic or treatment processes and can provide informed consent to use their data (opt-in by consent, opt-out by default.).
How much money will AI save in healthcare?
Recent reports highlight AI’s huge potential for cutting costs. Wide adoption of AI could lead to 5-10% savings in US healthcare spending—roughly $200 billion to $360 billion annually in 2019 dollars.
What are examples of AI in the medical field?
Medical devices can be apps, websites, or programs on watches, phones, tablets, laptops, or computers. They might be part of a larger system with cloud features or work alone.
Some examples of AI-powered medical devices are:
- Apps that help diagnose skin cancer using phone photos
- Chatbots that suggest treatments to patients and doctors
- Systems that create summaries of symptoms and diagnoses using AI
- Apps for eye disease screening like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma
- Radiology tools that help diagnose lung issues and tumors.
