Development potential of dermatological artificial intelligence and U-healthcare: perceptions reported by middle-aged people in the Republic of Korea

Abstract: As population aging becomes a more prominent global trend, there is increasing demand for dermatology artificial intelligence (AI) and ubiquitous healthcare (U-healthcare). This study examined the perception of dermatology U-healthcare among people aged 50 years and older in Korea who are unfamiliar with digital devices amid the rapid progress of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and explored the demand for and the development potential of dermatological U-healthcare. A survey was disseminated to 400 Korean men and women aged 50 to 70 years old. Questionnaires lacking detailed responses were omitted, resulting in 374 validated questionnaires that were used for analysis. Data collected were statistically processed through data coding and cleaning procedures using the Statistical Package for Social Science WIN25.0 statistical software. Regarding participant expectations for U-healthcare skin health services by age, 141 respondents (37.7%) expected personalized skin diagnosis and monitoring services; 80 people (21.4%) believed they would be able to monitor their skin health systematically and accurately, and 77 people (20.6%) expected to be able to receive customized skin care and dermatology services tailored to their individual needs. These results highlight the demand for and the development potential of AI and U-healthcare skin health services for the middle-aged in Korea. Consumer demand for sustainable and safe methods to delay skin aging is likely to grow as global populations age. Research on telemedicine technology and the development of mobile apps that can be used easily by middle-aged and older adults are essential to the continuous improvement and development of dermatology.