Patients are skeptical of AI in health care: a slideshow

Not all patients want a computer analyzing their health.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the hottest issues in medicine, with numerous studies and news reports about the best ways to integrate it into health care.

But patients may not trust AI health innovations over human physicians who bring their education and experience into the examination room.

Global communications firm Edelman this month published its “2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Health.” It has 55 pages of survey data from 16 countries around the world, with breakdowns by age, feelings of empowerment to make health decisions, and political leanings.

This slideshow has data about acceptance or rejection of AI health innovation. There are percentages for the United States, global average, and global high. All data come from Edelman.

Patient feelings were rated on a five-point scale. Patients who felt enthusiastic or passionate were rated as those who embrace innovation, while patients who were resistant or hesitant were classified as those rejecting the innovation, so the combined percentages may not total 100%.

The nations involved were Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.