Every month, roughly 30% of adults in the U.S. turn to artificial intelligence for health information and advice, according to recent polling from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research organization. That number has almost doubled in the last two years.
It’s no surprise, since AI allows access to fast, jargon-free advice and eliminates the need to wait for an appointment, said Dr. Kathrine Schmidt, an internal medicine physician at UC Health.
But it’s not always best, she said.
“Quick and relatable is great, but quick and wrong can be dangerous, especially with talking about your health,” Schmidt said.
The Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network, gathered a list of tips from local health care providers to help your searches be safer.
Use AI as a starting point, not for pro perspective
With busy schedules and barriers to getting quick medical care, AI seems like an appealing, convenient way to get information, said Dylan Clark, chief analytics & AI officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health.
About 1 in 5 AI health users turned to turned to technology for answers because they did not have a health care provider or couldn’t get an appointment, according to KFF. Another 1 in 5 said they couldn’t afford health care.
But AI is not a safe substitute for medical care, Schmidt and Clark said.
Instead, treat AI like a “health encyclopedia,” Schmidt said. While it is helpful for understanding a condition, breaking down information or preparing for an appointment, AI is not a doctor.
“Use it as a way to sharpen the questions you ask, not to skip a doctor, delay care or change a prescription on your own,” Clark said.
Here are some example prompts from Schmidt and Clark to feed the chatbot:
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“What does my cholesterol number mean?”
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“What should I ask my doctor before starting a new blood pressure medication?”
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“I’ve been thinking about how to adjust my lifestyle to be more healthy forward. Are there suggestions for a meal plan you may have?”
Keep all searches educational rather than relying on AI for an accurate diagnosis, Schmidt said.
“General health education and visit preparation are where AI really shines.”
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Always check, and double check, sources that AI uses
AI can provide valuable information or answers to direct questions but lacks any oversight to validate the quality of the generated content, said Dr. Marcus Romanello, chief medical officer at the Christ Hospital Health Network.
For that reason, be careful about how you phrase your prompts, opting for simpler, direct questions with straightforward answers, such as asking for symptoms of a diagnosed illness.
“The tools are still prone to being overconfident in hallucinated or erroneous responses,” Romanello said. “This makes it harder to recognize dangerous advice.”
Be cautious of any answer that AI provides with confidence, Clark said. AI often makes up information while sounding certain.
Ask the chatbot to cite its sources and then verify that those sources are trustworthy, such as established health systems, academic centers or government health agencies.
AI may also make up citations that don’t exist, Schmidt said. So, be sure to cross-reference any important information with trusted sites, such as MedlinePlus or Mayo Clinic.
Keep your private information private
While scrutinizing the information that you receive from AI is important, ensuring that you aren’t giving away too much personal detail is also crucial, Schmidt and Clark said.
Medical records are protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. Any information you give to an AI chatbot, however, is not protected the same way.
Giving some details about your personal circumstances, such as your age or general lifestyle, should be safe. But avoid doling out sensitive information related to your identity, such as your birthdate or address.
Never use AI in cases of emergency or crisis
There are certain situations that AI cannot respond to, Clark said.
“Anything urgent or high stakes deserves a real person right away,” he said.
If you are experiencing chest pain, trouble breathing or a mental health crisis, it’s time to seek care from a trained professional. In emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. During mental health crises, call 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline.
Check with a care provider before making any medical decisions
Decisions about your medical care should be between you and a professional provider, not a chatbot. Rather than asking AI if you should switch the dosage on a prescription, talk to a doctor. Don’t act on any information that a chatbot gives you and always keep your care team in the loop.
“The most important thing is that a physician’s judgment should always be sought out and should inform any real decision, because AI can be wrong,” Clark said. “Its output is a prompt for a conversation with a clinician, never a replacement for one.”
There are many cases in which the only way to get clear answers is through an in-person examination, Romanello said.
If cost or access to care is a barrier, Schmidt recommends looking for community health centers, finding telehealth services or consulting nurse advice lines.
“You matter more than convenience,” Clark said.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Can AI replace a doctor? Health experts explain the risks