Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management
Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to fundamentally transform how public health authorities use risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management (RCCE-IM) to prepare for, manage and mitigate public health emergencies. As research on this crucial transforma...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/5/e018545.full |
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| author | Keyrellous Adib David Novillo-Ortiz Ben Duncan Daniela Mahl Mike S Schäfer Stefan Adrian Voinea Cristiana Salvi |
| author_facet | Keyrellous Adib David Novillo-Ortiz Ben Duncan Daniela Mahl Mike S Schäfer Stefan Adrian Voinea Cristiana Salvi |
| author_sort | Keyrellous Adib |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to fundamentally transform how public health authorities use risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management (RCCE-IM) to prepare for, manage and mitigate public health emergencies. As research on this crucial transformation remains limited, we conducted a modified Delphi study on the impact of AI on RCCE-IM.Methods In two successive surveys, 54 experts―scholars with expertise in public health, digital health, health communication, risk communication and AI, as well as RCCE-IM professionals―from 27 countries assessed opportunities, challenges and risks of AI, anticipated future scenarios, and identified principles and actions to facilitate the responsible use of AI. The first Delphi round followed an open, exploratory approach, while the second sought to prioritise and rank key findings from the initial phase. Qualitative thematic analysis and statistical methods were applied to evaluate responses.Results According to the expert panel, AI could be highly beneficial, particularly for risk communication (eg, tailoring messages) and infodemic management (eg, social listening), while its utility for fostering community engagement was viewed more critically. Challenges and risks affect all three components of RCCE-IM equally, with algorithmic bias and privacy breaches being of particular concern. Panellists anticipated both optimistic (eg, democratisation of information) and pessimistic (eg, erosion of public trust) future scenarios. They identified seven principles for the responsible use of AI for public health practices, with equity and transparency being the most important. Prioritised actions ranged from regulatory measures, resource allocation and feedback loops to capacity building, public trust initiatives and educational training.Conclusion To responsibly navigate the multifaceted opportunities, challenges and risks of AI for RCCE-IM in public health emergencies, clear guiding principles, ongoing critical evaluation and training as well as societal collaboration across countries are needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9658f0a48d604a4eae5fdccf308cd238 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9658f0a48d604a4eae5fdccf308cd2382025-08-20T03:08:55ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082025-05-0110510.1136/bmjgh-2024-018545Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic managementKeyrellous Adib0David Novillo-Ortiz1Ben Duncan2Daniela Mahl3Mike S Schäfer4Stefan Adrian Voinea5Cristiana Salvi6World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, DenmarkWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, DenmarkWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, DenmarkWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, DenmarkIntroduction Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to fundamentally transform how public health authorities use risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management (RCCE-IM) to prepare for, manage and mitigate public health emergencies. As research on this crucial transformation remains limited, we conducted a modified Delphi study on the impact of AI on RCCE-IM.Methods In two successive surveys, 54 experts―scholars with expertise in public health, digital health, health communication, risk communication and AI, as well as RCCE-IM professionals―from 27 countries assessed opportunities, challenges and risks of AI, anticipated future scenarios, and identified principles and actions to facilitate the responsible use of AI. The first Delphi round followed an open, exploratory approach, while the second sought to prioritise and rank key findings from the initial phase. Qualitative thematic analysis and statistical methods were applied to evaluate responses.Results According to the expert panel, AI could be highly beneficial, particularly for risk communication (eg, tailoring messages) and infodemic management (eg, social listening), while its utility for fostering community engagement was viewed more critically. Challenges and risks affect all three components of RCCE-IM equally, with algorithmic bias and privacy breaches being of particular concern. Panellists anticipated both optimistic (eg, democratisation of information) and pessimistic (eg, erosion of public trust) future scenarios. They identified seven principles for the responsible use of AI for public health practices, with equity and transparency being the most important. Prioritised actions ranged from regulatory measures, resource allocation and feedback loops to capacity building, public trust initiatives and educational training.Conclusion To responsibly navigate the multifaceted opportunities, challenges and risks of AI for RCCE-IM in public health emergencies, clear guiding principles, ongoing critical evaluation and training as well as societal collaboration across countries are needed.https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/5/e018545.full |
| spellingShingle | Keyrellous Adib David Novillo-Ortiz Ben Duncan Daniela Mahl Mike S Schäfer Stefan Adrian Voinea Cristiana Salvi Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management BMJ Global Health |
| title | Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management |
| title_full | Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management |
| title_fullStr | Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management |
| title_short | Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management |
| title_sort | responsible artificial intelligence in public health a delphi study on risk communication community engagement and infodemic management |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/5/e018545.full |
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