Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jun 18, 2025
Date Accepted: Mar 11, 2026
Comparing Perceptions of ChatGPT Use: Perceived Usefulness, Risk, Anxiety, and Social Influence on Health Attitude Among Users and Non-Users
ABSTRACT
Background:
In light of the growing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, individuals' access and utilization of health information transform. ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, provides immediate responses to health queries with the potential to influence health-related attitudes and concerns related to privacy, reliability, and security
Objective:
This study investigates the perceived usefulness, risks, anxiety, and social influence of ChatGPT on health attitudes among users and non-users in Saudi Arabia
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey based on a validated tool. A total of 337 participants aged 18 and above responded to questions assessing their perceptions of ChatGPT on health-related attitudes.
Results:
Data shows 76% of the respondents used ChatGPT, mostly from younger and educated individuals. The main utilization of health choices was for health education (22%) and physical activity guidance (16%). The analysis showed that users considered ChatGPT useful for health choices, with 45.9% finding it easy to learn and use, with concerns about privacy (36%) and reliability (30%) issues. Among non-users, security risks (49%) were the major barrier to using AI-based tools for health attitudes, and 57.4% found it attractive and engaging.
Conclusions:
The study established the potential of ChatGPT in improving health decision-making and revealed cultural, privacy and trust issues that may affect its implementation. Indicating the importance of focusing on AI-based applications’ security to enhance the population acceptability with related health policies to safely integrate tools like ChatGPT into the healthcare system.
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