AMBIVALENCE OF THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON THE HEALTH-PRESERVING BEHAVIOR OF THE POPULATION: CHALLENGES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/pub.health.2026.1.24Keywords:
digital health, artificial intelligence, health-preserving behavior, cyberchondria, public health, self-diagnosisAbstract
Topicality. The rapid digitalization of healthcare and the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems are fundamentally changing the population's approach to disease prevention and self-care. The accessibility of medical content on the Internet has both pronounced positive and hidden negative consequences, forming a complex ambivalent impact on public health that requires detailed scientific study.
The goal of the work is to analyze the ambivalent impact of the use of digital technologies and AI tools on the health-preserving behavior of the population, based on a pilot survey, to substantiate new challenges in the public health system.
Materials and methods. A pilot cross-sectional online survey of 133 respondents (48.9%, n=65 men, 51.1%, n=68 women, mean age 30.5 years) with a high level of digital literacy was conducted. The study design was based on the CROSS methodology and elements of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI). Data processing was carried out using descriptive statistics.
Research results. It was established that 72.9% (n=97) of respondents actively use chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) to obtain medical advice, and 42.1% (n=56) use them for self-diagnosis. The positive impact of digitalization was confirmed by 80.5% (n=107) of individuals, who stated that digital tools helped them take better care of their health. Furthermore, 45.1% (n=60) improved their dietary habits, and 36.8% (n=49) increased their physical activity. At the same time, 50.4% (n=67) of respondents experience negative consequences. A high level of cyberchondria was detected: 30.1% (n=40) complain of groundless health anxiety, 21.8% (n=29) experienced panic after self-diagnosis through AI, and 24.1% (n=32) suffer from information exhaustion. Somatic disorders are recorded: eye strain (55.6%, n=74), neck pain (43.6%, n=58), decreased mobility due to prolonged gadget use (24.1%, n=32), and sleep disturbances (34.6%, n=46).
Conclusions. The results of the pilot study confirm the ambivalent nature of the impact of digital technologies. Despite the stimulation of preventive practices, the uncontrolled use of AI forms new medico-social risks: cyberchondria, digital exhaustion, and somatic disorders. This indicates a critical deficit in information hygiene skills and requires the development of appropriate educational programs in the public health system.
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