Machine Learning in Primary Health Care: The Research Landscape

Background: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are playing crucial roles in digital transformation, aiming to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and responsiveness of primary health systems and their services. Method: Using synthetic knowledge synthesis and bibliometric and thematic analysis triangulation, we identified the most productive and prolific countries, institutions, funding sponsors, source titles, publications productivity trends, and principal research categories and themes. Results: The United States and the United Kingdom were the most productive countries; Plos One and BJM Open were the most prolific journals; and the National Institutes of Health, USA, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China were the most productive funding sponsors. The publication productivity trend is positive and exponential. The main themes are related to natural language processing in clinical decision-making, primary health care optimization focusing on early diagnosis and screening, improving health-based social determinants, and using chatbots to optimize communications with patients and between health professionals. Conclusions: The use of machine learning in primary health care aims to address the significant global burden of so-called "missed diagnostic opportunities" while minimizing possible adverse effects on patients.