Canadian physicians are increasingly stepping in to prevent or address negative outcomes after patients accessed inaccurate or misleading health information online, including from AI-generated advice, a new study suggests.
Ninety-seven percent of doctors surveyed by research firm Abacus Data for the Canadian Medical Association reported encountering such challenges, many arising from guidance patients obtained from artificial intelligence.
Thirty-four percent of the 645 practicing physicians who completed the survey between April 6 and 13 reported dealing with consequences from patients following online advice “often” while 45 percent said it happens “sometimes.”
An additional 92 percent of the doctors who were polled said disconnected health systems, such as the inability to easily share patient records, test results, or clinical notes, also impact their ability to provide care. Sixty-six percent of respondents said this happens often, compared to 26 percent who said it happens “sometimes,” 6 percent who said it “rarely” happens, and 1 percent who said it never happens….