Episode Description:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday life. People use it to brainstorm, create a schedule, or reduce the mental load of daily tasks. At Arthritis Research Canada, we’re asking how people living with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions can use AI to support their health.
“AI allows you to learn and have better conversations with healthcare providers,” said Ellen Wang, a physiotherapist and trainee at Arthritis Research Canada.
A 2024 survey from Arthritis Research Canada’s Dr. Carrie Ye and Arthritis Consumer Experts found that approximately 15% of people living with rheumatic conditions reported using AI for health-related purposes. Learn more about this research in Episode 19 of the Arthritis Research Education Series.
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Webinar
Learn about existing AI tools to support your health from our researchers and patient partner.
Research
Content and Topic of Research
“Artificial intelligence was trained on a lot of information, not all of it being correct,” said Ellen Wang, a physiotherapist and research trainee at Arthritis Research Canada, “but it allows you to learn and opens doors to have better conversations with healthcare providers.”
Click the links to learn more about AI research at Arthritis Research Canada.
- ChatRheum: Developing a chatbot for answering rheumatology-related questions
- Adoption and perception of LLM-based chatbots in health care: an exploratory cross-sectional survey of individuals with rheumatic diseases
- The Alberta Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (AQAT:RoB) for the Evaluation of Medical Large Language Model Question-Answer Studies: Development and Pilot Validation
- Doctor Versus Artificial Intelligence: Patient and Physician Evaluation of Large Language Model Responses to Rheumatology Patient Questions in a Cross‐Sectional Study
- Application of artificial intelligence to measure and predict patient values and preferences: a scoping review
Research Scientist
Ellen Wang
Physiotherapist |Research Trainee, Arthritis Research Canada
Ellen Wang is a recent graduate of the Master of Physical Therapy program and a PhD student at the University of British Columbia. She integrates clinical training, academic research, passion for advocacy, and lived experience into her practice. Ellen holds both bachelors and masters degrees in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, where she conducted research supporting older adults with chronic conditions and mobility challenges. Her work at UBC has focused on promoting physical activity for people living with arthritis and exploring what it means for research to be led by patients and/or the public.
Additional Resources
- A Scoping Review on Artificial Intelligence–Supported Interventions for Nonpharmacologic Management of Chronic Rheumatic Diseases: This review summarizes how AI‐supported interventions show promise in promoting education, exercise, and behaviour change for adults with chronic rheumatic diseases.
- Comparing Artificial Intelligence-Generated and Clinician-Created Personalized Self-Management Guidance for Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: Blinded Observational Study: Findings for this study suggest that AI produces accurate, comprehensive, personalized, and safe responses to healthcare questions.
- Patient Acceptability of Symptom Screening and Patient Education Using a Chatbot for Autoimmune Inflammatory Diseases: According to this study, chatbots can be integrated into care as a first line for diagnosis, followed by an in-person visit.
- Patients Are Using AI for Medical Advice. Here’s How to Do It Safely: Forbes article that outlines guidelines on safer AI use.
- World-first safety guide for public use of AI health chatbots: University of Birmingham researchers built the first definitive guide for safely navigating health information on AI-powered chatbots.
- The Health Chatbot Users’ Guide: Get involved in creating evidence-based guidance to help patients and the public use AI chatbots safely.
- Doctors warn: Canadians are turning to AI for health information and it is hurting them: A new survey from the Canadian Medical Association about the risks of turning to AI for health information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
AI refers to technology that can process information, recognize patterns, and provide helpful suggestions or answers. Many people already use AI in everyday tools like search engines, voice assistants, and health apps.
Can AI help people living with arthritis?
AI refers to technology that can process information, recognize patterns, and provide helpful suggestions or answers. Many people already use AI in everyday tools like search engines, voice assistants, and health apps.
AI has the potential to support people living with arthritis by helping them learn about the diagnosis that their healthcare provider has given them, track symptoms like pain and fatigue, support physical activity, and provide access to information when they need it. It’s one of many tools that can help you better understand your body and patterns of your health.
Can I trust AI to give me medical advice?
AI should not replace medical advice from a healthcare professional. Think of it as a support tool. It can help you prepare for conversations with your healthcare provider or better understand your health.
What are the risks of using AI for medical advice?
Like any tool, AI has limits. It may not always understand your full situation or provide complete information. It can provide inaccurate information or perhaps even misinformation. Using it alongside professional advice can help reduce these risks. There are also potential risks to the privacy and security of any of your personal medical information that you provide to it. Finally, don’t let it prevent or delay you from seeking medical care from a healthcare professional.
What is the difference between generative AI and other types of AI?
Generative AI creates new content when you ask it a question or ask it to do something for you (like write something, make an image, or even create a video or new music). But, remember that it gives different answers each time you ask the same question – it does not reliably provide the single best answer. Other types of AI create products that are the same each time you ask it to do something, such as asking it to find patterns in apps that track your steps or monitor your symptoms.
Will AI replace doctors or healthcare providers?
No. AI should support healthcare, not replace it. Healthcare providers bring clinical expertise, context, and human understanding that AI cannot replicate.
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