As the internet becomes a crucial channel for obtaining health information, a new survey reveals that over 74% of adults aged 50 and above express a very low or no trust at all in information generated by artificial intelligence. Additionally, 20% of seniors report a lack of confidence in identifying erroneous health information.
This percentage is even higher among those who perceive their mental health, physical health, or memory as average or poor, as well as those who report having disabilities that limit their activities. In other words, those who may need reliable health information the most are more likely to express a lack of confidence in identifying misinformation.
Among all seniors who have recently searched for online health information, only 32% found it easy to locate accurate information. These findings are from a report on health literacy among individuals aged 50 and older, produced by the University of Michigan and AARP team using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study.
The authors of the report suggest that health systems, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies can use these results to help them create and promote accurate and understandable health information in various formats. They also highlight the opportunity for organizations to assist seniors in understanding how to find reliable health information for themselves or others.
The poll was conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, supported by AARP and the University of Michigan Medical Center. Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren, the poll's director, notes that in this context of mistrust, the study also underscores the significant role of healthcare providers and pharmacists in seniors' lives as trusted conveyors of health information, and even the role of friends or family with medical backgrounds.
Overall, 58% of the surveyed seniors reported using at least one such website for information in the past year. The most frequently used type of website was health information .com sites like WebMD and Healthline, used by 39%, followed by 31% who visited health system websites.
Among those who used .com sites, 36% found the information on these sites to be very trustworthy, while 59% who visited healthcare system websites held the same view. The proportion of people visiting federal government agency websites (21%), nonprofit organizations such as the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society (14%), and university or medical school websites (11%) was much smaller. However, about 60% of those who visited these sites found them to be very trustworthy.
Indira Venkat, Senior Vice President of Research at AARP, stated: "Seniors are increasingly turning to the internet for health information, but there is a significant trust gap, especially with AI-generated content. While AI advancements offer promising opportunities to support healthy aging, this poll underscores the urgent need for reliable, accessible health resources. As we navigate the evolving landscape of digital health, ensuring that seniors receive trustworthy information from healthcare providers and credible websites is crucial."