45% have interest in voice-assisted health management

Interest in AI technologies like voice search, assistants and chatbot are increasing as more patients takes steps to management their care, according to the DRG Digital - Manhattan Research's Cybercitizen Health U.S. 2017 study.

The study includes responses from 6,001 U.S. adults on their digital healthcare interest. Findings included:

• One in four smartphone users now use voice search to access information.
• 51 percent of Americans are interested in using voice-activated health management technology.
• 45 percent are interested in using voice assistants for health, stating that the technology would change how they manage their health.
• 69 percent of Crohn’s disease patients and 61 percent of patients with depression are interested in voice assistants for health management.
• 32 percent of adults would prefer using an automated chat bot to navigate websites.

"The healthcare industry is notoriously slow to catch up with new technologies, but AI-powered tech shows great potential to modernize and improve care. For patients, AI promises a whole new user experience, faster access to care, a new source of medical advice and health management support," said DRG Senior Digital Analyst Gintare Greenfeld. "On the flip side, physicians are going to have to start coordinating care with Dr. Siri or Dr. Alexa."