[Acceptance of artificial intelligence tools for medical history-taking: Findings of a population survey in Germany]

Digital tools for medical history-taking, such as chatbots, are increasingly being developed and evaluated but have not yet been implemented across the board in medical practices in Germany. The aim of this study was to survey the acceptance of AI-supported tools for medical history-taking among the German population, thereby allowing conclusions to be drawn about the use of these tools and their suitability as part of digitalization strategies in medical practices.

The study is based on an online survey among the German population (fieldwork November 18 to 24, 2024, n = 1,000). Based on the 'Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology' (UTAUT), three central hypotheses on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical history-taking process were generated and tested using linear regression models.

In the two scenarios examined - patients using a chatbot at home and at the doctor's office - there was a high level of acceptance for the use of AI-supported systems. The expected relationships between Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy and expected Social Influence with the behavioral intention to use a chatbot either in the doctor's office or before visiting the doctor's office have been confirmed. However, influential factors such as age, gender, or experience with technology do not show the expected correlations.

Practicability is crucial for a favorable attitude towards AI applications. There were no apparent gender differences. When implementing chatbots in the medical history-taking process, the aspects of practicability, data protection, and data security should play a key role. Given that a large number of the elderly in Germany still have limited experience with digital technologies, usability is highly relevant for both this population group and for people with disabilities.