Artificial intelligence (AI) is the third source of health information in Mexico, when in 2024 it was the eighth, as revealed by the study ‘The Mexican Digital Patient’, presented this Tuesday by the Mexican Foundation for Health (Funsalud).
The objective of the study is to identify the main platforms, mobile applications and online tools used by patients to search for health information, schedule appointments, purchase medications and access medical services.
To do this, more than 2,000 people were interviewed in the 32 states of the country.
As the main finding, Funsalud highlighted that “AI platforms already occupy third place as a source of health information” (22%), while in 2024 they were in eighth position.
In first place are search engines (59%), followed by specialized sites (42%).
“AI had an increase in the interest and use of patients, reaching 22% use, reflecting the evolution in the use of technology for health care by Mexicans,” said Funsalud, in a statement.
The main AI platforms in which patients search for information are ChatGPT, Gemini and Meta AI, he detailed.
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The study also found that 41% of patients “frequently search” for information on the Internet about symptoms, diseases or health problems; 31% do it occasionally, and 28% rarely.
In addition, it identified that about 72% of people “search the Internet for information about medications, their use, doses and side effects,” while 71% use the Internet “to learn about diseases, symptoms and prevention measures,” and 44% “to learn about the effects and interactions of medications” with foods or other products.
Héctor Valle, president of Funsalud, also highlighted that seven out of ten patients stated that certain content on social networks “motivates them to take better care of their health, and the majority consider a consultation with a health professional after reviewing this type of content.”
“This finding shows that patients are increasingly taking on greater responsibility for their health care. In addition, patients are beginning to use Artificial Intelligence tools for their care,” Valle concluded.
With information from EFE.
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