Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, bringing powerful tools for diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient management. Yet as technology becomes embedded in clinical practice, one constant remains: communication between patients and clinicians. How AI is integrated into this dialogue will shape the future of shared decision-making, particularly in diverse cultural contexts.
AI systems can reduce the administrative burden on physicians by automating routine tasks and providing evidence-based treatment recommendations [1]. This frees up time for clinicians to focus on building rapport and trust, which are cornerstones of patient-centered care. Research highlights that effective communication improves prevention, adherence, and overall outcomes [1]. By augmenting human expertise, AI offers opportunities to re-center conversations around the patient.
Shared Decision-Making in the AI Era
Shared decision-making is not just a clinical protocol; it is a collaborative process where patients and clinicians integrate medical evidence with personal values and preferences. With AI, patients may enter consultations informed by AI-generated medical opinions, sometimes even before seeing their doctor [2]. While this can empower patients, it may also challenge traditional dynamics if AI-generated advice conflicts with clinical expertise.
Clinicians must therefore embrace openness, acknowledging AI’s insights while guiding patients through the limitations and uncertainties of these systems [2]. Transparent conversations about how AI contributes to care decisions are essential for maintaining trust.
Respecting Cultural Contexts
Healthcare decisions are deeply influenced by cultural values, beliefs, and expectations. AI models trained on non-representative data risk reinforcing inequities and marginalizing underrepresented groups [2]. To ensure inclusivity, AI tools must be validated on diverse datasets, reflecting the populations they serve.
Equally important, clinicians must communicate AI-supported recommendations in ways that are culturally sensitive, ensuring that patients’ voices are heard and respected. This cultural alignment strengthens the therapeutic alliance and ensures that technology supports, rather than disrupts, patient autonomy.
Looking Ahead
As AI continues to reshape healthcare, its role in patient–clinician communication must be carefully defined. AI can support precision health by tailoring treatment strategies not only to genetics but also to socio-environmental and cultural factors [1]. To achieve this vision, medical education should prepare clinicians to discuss AI tools with patients and to navigate cultural differences in decision-making.
References
-
Holtz B, Nelson V, Poropatich RK. Artificial Intelligence in Health: Enhancing a Return to Patient-Centered Communication. Telemed J E Health. 2023;29(6):795–7. doi:10.1089/tmj.2022.0413 .
-
Hryciw BN, Fortin Z, Ghossein J, Kyeremanteng K. Doctor-patient interactions in the age of AI: navigating innovation and expertise. Front Med. 2023;10:1241508. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1241508
