The do’s and don’ts of using AI chatbots for arthritis management
With the ongoing long wait times and health care provider shortage, turning to an AI chatbot for your health concerns can feel like a timely, practical workaround. Today, nearly half of Canadians do just that. But, before relying on an algorithm for advice, there are a few important things to consider.
For Dr. Jessica Fairley, an Australian rheumatologist doing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Schroeder Arthritis Centre in Toronto studying how people use chatbots for their health, it’s important that people learn to stay safe while using AI. “Even with context, chatbots don’t understand the ins and outs of your specific health situation like your doctor,” Dr. Fairley says. Unlike your doctor, they won’t always protect your information and they’re not accountable for the information they give you. “There’s a disclaimer at the bottom of the chatbot, always saying the information may be incorrect,” she adds.
What are chatbots?
Chatbots are software that draw from databases to simulate a conversation with their user. Day or night, chatbots gather, synthesize, and simplify large volumes of information in just seconds, which makes them a popular tool for people to learn about their health.
Many kinds of chatbots exist, offering a variety of responses based on their programming.
AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are large language models (LLMs) that scrape databases for information and language to generate responses to a user’s prompt. The more context given in a prompt, the more accurate the bots’ response will be.
You might also come across specialized health chatbots. Many of these operate on a narrower scope, making them less likely to generate incorrect responses.
LupusGPT, for example, is an AI-based custom chatbot, which means it only draws on pre-approved resources.
How to use chatbots for arthritis
When it comes to arthritis, Dr. Fairley says chatbots can help you prepare for your medical appointments.
- Pre-appointment research – If not knowing what to expect during your appointment makes you anxious, you can ask a chatbot what questions and tests your provider is likely to bring up.
- Planning questions – Chatbots can also suggest and tailor questions for your appointment. Having questions drafted ahead of time can help you advocate for yourself and leave with the information you need.
- Creating symptom timelines – For any healthcare provider to properly diagnose and support you, they need the full picture. Chatbots can help by creating a timeline of your health concerns to review with your doctor.
- Testing lifestyle changes – Dr. Fairley says that in more than 80% of cases, a chatbot’s recommended exercises and lifestyle changes align with those of health professionals, making this a “low-risk, high-reward” option if you’re struggling to get an appointment. This should never include starting or adjusting medication without a medical professional’s prescription and guidance. Additionally, some supplements and foods can counteract with specific medications and conditions, so please discuss these changes with an expert.
How are chatbots harmful?
- Hallucinations – While AI chatbots are programmed to pull from existing information, sometimes they generate baseless responses, which are called hallucinations. Hallucinations can be difficult to spot, which is why it’s always best to confirm the information you find with a healthcare provider.
- Exaggerating side effects – While rheumatology medications can cause a variety of side effects, people who take them as prescribed generally experience very positive results. However, Dr. Fairley says there’s a concern of chatbots talking people out of taking medication and accessing life-saving treatments because of possible side effects.
- Mental health – Chatbots can pose serious harm to people’s mental health. Some chatbots have been found to create echo chambers, validating users’ harmful thinking, resulting in potentially fatal outcomes.
- Ecological footprint –Data centres, the global infrastructure powering AI, use enormous amounts of electricity, land, and water to run, which drains the planet of major resources and greatly exacerbates the climate crisis.
Safer alternatives to chatbots
Dr. Fairley says one of the worst things a person can do for their health is “sit on information that’s wrong, stop medications or delay seeing their doctor because they’ve been reassured by AI about symptoms they should address.” It’s always best to talk to your healthcare team about what you find online, and fact-check your chatbot’s responses with credible resources.
- Online, peer-reviewed resources. Health organizations publish a wide variety of accurate, up-to-date, and user-friendly resources to help you on your health journey. To learn more about managing arthritis, find these resources on our website, across our social media, and sign up for our email newsletters.
- Ask an expert. Talk to your healthcare team or support services like our Arthritis Line about what you’re experiencing, what you’ve read online, and where you need their help.
