Doctors worry as Canadians turn to AI for health information, new survey says

A new study finds Canadians are turning to artificial intelligence for medical information, and it may be causing them harm.

An increasing number of Canadians are turning to getting health advice online or from artificial intelligence, according to a new survey.

The survey by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) shows around 89 per cent of Canadians go online for health information, saying it’s more convenient than accessing care through the health system.

“What I see more often is patients who use these tools and want to have a conversation about it, which I think is valuable and important” said Dr. Matthew Clarke with Nova Scotia Health.

While only 27 per cent of Canadians trust AI to give accurate information, the survey shows half of Canadians are using it to diagnose and treat their issues. Canadians who followed health advice from AI were also five times more likely to experience harm, according to the survey.

Dr. Margot Burnell, president of CMA, says the struggle Canadians have had with accessing health care has given people few options.

“This leaves people little choice but to turn to dubious sources of information, and now we know that it is hurting them. We fear what this will mean for patients in the future if action is not taken now,” she said in a news release Tuesday.

The survey shows the majority of Canadians, around 77 per cent, are concerned with the increasing amount of false health information coming from the United States, and the increasing amount of false health information has made around 69 per cent of Canadian skeptical of any health information they find online, even if it’s a source they think they should trust.

Most of those surveyed believe the responsibility to stop the spread of false health information should fall onto social media platforms as well as governments.

“AI is already reshaping the delivery of health services, and it’s not going away,” says Burnell. “It is critical that government, health providers, patients work together to ensure AI is a tool for reliable health information.”

The CMA submitted a series of recommendations to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to shape AI to enhance health care, as well as protect privacy.