What if you have a humanoid AI robot doctor?: An investigation of public trust in South Korea

ABSTRACT

Background

Humanoid robots with artificial intelligence have been implemented in many healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, and many others. Due to the development of technology and the increasing use of humanoid robots, it is expected that more advanced humanoid robots will be developed and implemented in healthcare facilities for better healthcare services. Based on this anticipation, this study proactively examined the public trust in humanoid AI robot (HAIR) doctors that we might have in the near future.

Methods

This study employed two scales that have been predominantly used to measure patient-doctor trust through an extensive search across different scholarships. For data collection, online surveys were administered by posting a weblink to the online survey through social media, mostly Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk, in South Korea.

Results

Data analysis of 424 valid surveys found that the level of public trust in HAIR doctors as primary doctors was slightly higher than human doctors. For the data analysis using demographic variables, a series of t-test and ANOVA revealed that males showed a higher trust in HAIR doctors than females, while maintaining indifference in other demographic variables.

Conclusion

Based on the rapid development of AI and robot technology, the implementation of HAIR doctors for our healthcare service would be a reality in the near future as the public also becomes more familiar with interacting with humanoid robots. Therefore, a proactive preparation for the future is urgently needed for effective use of future technology as well as patients’ satisfaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Humanoid robot doctor
• Artificial intelligence
• trust
• Physician-Patient Relations
• communication
• health care services
• innovative healthcare
• health services accessibility

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received.

Notes on contributors

Do Kyun David Kim

Dr. Do Kyun David Kim is Professor and Richard D’Aqun/BORSF Endowed Professor of Communication at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is the founder and director of the AI communication research consortium. His areas of expertise include the diffusion of innovations and social marketing, and he applies his diffusion knowledge and skills for domestic and global health communication research and praxis and other organizational and social change projects. He has published many books and research articles, while delivering lectures and presentations at many academic conferences and professional organizations internationally.

Sejin Kim

Dr. Sejin Kim is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Utah – Asia Campus in South Korea. His research interests pertain to strategic message design, persuasion, information processing, and public campaigns related to health, environment, risk, and science.