Perceptions of ChatGPT in healthcare: usefulness, trust, and risk.

Front Public Health

Department of Sport Management, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.

Published: September 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • - The study examines Taiwanese perceptions of ChatGPT in healthcare, focusing on its usefulness, trust, and risks, and aims to understand its potential in public health education and clinical practice from the viewpoints of both healthcare and non-healthcare students.
  • - An online survey of 659 university students showed that both groups value ChatGPT more for medical education and research than clinical applications, with healthcare majors placing significant importance on trust when adopting the tool.
  • - Findings indicate that healthcare and non-healthcare students have different expectations of ChatGPT; healthcare majors are more cautious, while non-healthcare majors view increased complexity as a sign of trust, highlighting the need for AI applications to be customized to various user perspectives.

Article Abstract

Introduction: This study explores the perceptions of ChatGPT in healthcare settings in Taiwan, focusing on its usefulness, trust, and associated risks. As AI technologies like ChatGPT increasingly influence various sectors, their potential in public health education, promotion, medical education, and clinical practice is significant but not without challenges. The study aims to assess how individuals with and without healthcare-related education perceive and adopt ChatGPT, contributing to a deeper understanding of AI's role in enhancing public health outcomes.

Methods: An online survey was conducted among 659 university and graduate students, all of whom had prior experience using ChatGPT. The survey measured perceptions of ChatGPT's ease of use, novelty, usefulness, trust, and risk, particularly within clinical practice, medical education, and research settings. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze how these factors influence perception in healthcare applications, comparing responses between healthcare majors and non-healthcare majors.

Results: The study revealed that both healthcare and non-healthcare majors find ChatGPT more useful in medical education and research than in clinical practice. Regression analysis revealed that for healthcare majors, general trust is crucial for ChatGPT's adoption in clinical practice and influences its use in medical education and research. For non-healthcare majors, novelty, perceived general usefulness, and trust are key predictors. Interestingly, while healthcare majors were cautious about ease of use, fearing it might increase risk, non-healthcare majors associated increased complexity with greater trust.

Conclusion: This study highlights the varying expectations between healthcare and non-healthcare majors regarding ChatGPT's role in healthcare. The findings suggest the need for AI applications to be tailored to address specific user needs, particularly in clinical practice, where trust and reliability are paramount. Additionally, the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT to contribute to public health education and promotion is significant, as these technologies can enhance health literacy and encourage behavior change. These insights can inform future healthcare practices and policies by guiding the thoughtful and effective integration of AI tools like ChatGPT, ensuring they complement clinical judgment, enhance educational outcomes, support research integrity, and ultimately contribute to improved public health outcomes.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11436320PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1457131DOI Listing

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