New study finds health chatbot decreases uncertainty among patients

While the default in amateur diagnostics has become a quick Google search, increasingly innovators are looking to curb potential health misinformation pitfalls. New research published last week by JAMA found that Buoy Health's free chatbot helped decrease the rate of uncertainty among patients. The study also found that patients using the platform were more likely to decrease their intended level of care after using the technology. "We're excited to have our results published -- clearing patient confusion and reducing unnecessary ER/urgent care visits have big implications as healthcare costs continue to rise," Dr. Andrew Le, CEO and cofounder of Buoy Health told MobiHealthNews in an email. "That said, we will be working on follow-on studies, always focused on proving our outcomes and safety. We believe in peer-reviewed science and will continue to pursue transparency."