As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced and commonplace in medicine, patients are excited about the possibilities the technology could bring to care, according to a report released by Syneos Health Communications.

The report, which includes survey responses from 800 European and American patients and 200 caregivers, aims to provide insight into the future of AI in healthcare.

Findings included:

• Fears of AI: The main fears patients and providers have about AI were a lack of human oversight and medical errors caused by AI slowing workflow and increasing mismanagement of care.
• No Substitute for Your Doctor: Less than 20 percent of patients see any benefit to receiving a diagnosis or treatment recommendations from a virtual assistant.
• Strong Comfort in Using AI to Scale and Support Nurses: 64 percent of patients reported they would be comfortable with AI virtual nurse assistants, listing the benefits of 24/7 access to answers and support, monitoring their general health and questions regarding medications. Some 72 percent of patients also noted the virtual assistant should have a realistic voice with a professional tone is more important than a human face or name.
• Appropriate Providers of AI: Respondents ranked doctors, pharmacists and hospitals as the most trusted providers of AI. Technology companies were ranked the least trusted.

“Syneos Health Communications believes that technology giants viewing healthcare as their next big opportunity must address patient and caregiver concerns about trust, control and oversight,” said Michelle Keefe, president of Syneos Health Commercial Solutions. “A structured and deliberate multi-channel marketing and communications approach will be essential to generate the desired efficiencies and behavioral outcomes AI can achieve.”