Traylor Daryl O, Kern Keith V, Anderson Eboni E, Henderson Robert
Public Health, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, USA.
Public Health, A.T. Still University (ATSU) College of Graduate Health Studies, Mesa, USA.
Cureus. 2025 Jan 2;17(1):e76825. doi: 10.7759/cureus.76825. eCollection 2025 Jan.
The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI), exemplified by tools like ChatGPT, has transformed the healthcare landscape, particularly in patient education and the patient-physician relationship. While AI in healthcare has traditionally focused on data analysis and predictive analytics, the rise of generative AI has introduced new opportunities and challenges in patient interactions, information dissemination, and the overall dynamics of patient care. This narrative review explores the dual impact of generative AI on healthcare, examining its role in enhancing patients' understanding of medical conditions, promoting self-care, and supporting healthcare decision-making. Additionally, the review considers the potential risks, such as the erosion of trust in the patient-physician relationship and the spread of misinformation, while addressing ethical implications and the future integration into clinical practice. A comprehensive literature search, conducted using databases like PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, included studies published between 2010 and 2024 that discussed the role of generative AI in patient education, engagement, and the patient-physician relationship. Findings show that generative AI tools significantly enhance patient health literacy by making complex medical information more accessible, personalized, and interactive, thus empowering patients to take a more active role in managing their healthcare. However, risks such as misinformation and the undermining of the patient-physician relationship were also identified, with case studies highlighting both positive and negative outcomes. To fully harness the potential of AI in healthcare, it is essential to integrate these tools thoughtfully, ensuring they complement rather than replace the personalized care provided by physicians. Future research should focus on addressing ethical challenges and optimizing AI's role in clinical practice to maintain trust, communication, and the quality of patient care.
以ChatGPT等工具为代表的生成式人工智能（AI）的迅速发展，已经改变了医疗格局，尤其是在患者教育以及医患关系方面。虽然医疗领域的AI传统上一直专注于数据分析和预测分析，但生成式AI的兴起在患者互动、信息传播以及整体患者护理动态方面带来了新的机遇和挑战。这篇叙述性综述探讨了生成式AI对医疗的双重影响，审视了其在增强患者对医疗状况的理解、促进自我护理以及支持医疗决策方面的作用。此外，该综述还考虑了潜在风险，如医患关系中信任的侵蚀以及错误信息的传播，同时探讨了伦理影响以及未来融入临床实践的情况。使用PubMed、MEDLINE、Scopus和谷歌学术等数据库进行了全面的文献检索，纳入了2010年至2024年期间发表的讨论生成式AI在患者教育、参与度以及医患关系中作用的研究。研究结果表明，生成式AI工具通过使复杂的医疗信息更易获取、个性化和互动，显著提高了患者的健康素养，从而使患者能够在管理自身医疗保健方面发挥更积极的作用。然而，也发现了诸如错误信息和破坏医患关系等风险，案例研究突出了正反两方面的结果。为了充分发挥AI在医疗领域的潜力，必须谨慎地整合这些工具，确保它们补充而非取代医生提供的个性化护理。未来的研究应专注于应对伦理挑战并优化AI在临床实践中的作用，以维持信任、沟通和患者护理质量。
