Awareness, Usage, and Associated Factors of Artificial Intelligence-Based Healthcare Services among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in South Korea

Background:The recent rapid advancement of digital technology has the potential to widen the digital divide.In the context of healthcare, such a divide can result in health disparities, which are considered a significant public health concern.This study aimed to assess the awareness and actual use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based healthcare services and to determine the associated factors among late middle-aged and older Korean adults. Methods:The data from 2,300 individuals aged 55 and older who participated in the 2023 Digital Divide Survey were analyzed.The awareness and actual usage of AI-based healthcare services were assessed, and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the related factors.Results: In this study, 32.6% of the study participants (n=750) were aware of AI-based healthcare services, of which 18.4% (n=138) had used such services.Moreover, the study participants with lower educational attainment (middle school or below) were significantly less likely to be aware of AI-based healthcare.In contrast, higher assistive device ownership, greater digital competency, more diverse digital utilization, stronger digital support, and higher digital self-efficacy were significantly associated with awareness.The actual usage of AI-based healthcare services was significantly related to higher assistive device ownership, more diverse and advanced digital utilization, and lower digital self-efficacy. Conclusion:This study determined the key factors influencing the awareness and usage of AI-based healthcare services among older Korean adults.The findings of this study highlight both the facilitators and barriers, providing insights in relation to digital health policy and efforts to promote equitable access in the evolving healthcare landscape.