Public awareness, trust, perceived usefulness, and willingness to use ChatGPT for healthcare communication among adults in the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in healthcare, with tools such as ChatGPT, which enhances access to health information. Understanding public awareness, trust, and perceived usefulness, along with demographic influences, is essential for responsible AI adoption. This study aimed to evaluate awareness, trust, and perceived usefulness of ChatGPT in healthcare communication among adults in the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults (≥18 years) in the Asir Region from November 2025-January 2026. A validated Arabic questionnaire assessed sociodemographics, prior ChatGPT use, awareness, trust, perceived usefulness, risks, and willingness. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression to identify predictors of willingness (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

A total of 429 adults participated in the study. Most participants reported prior use of ChatGPT (70.40%). Awareness of ChatGPT and AI in healthcare was moderate, with higher scores among younger and more educated participants (p < 0.05). Participants generally reported favorable perceptions of the usefulness of ChatGPT, particularly for patient education and access to information, although trust remained moderate. Perceived risks included misinformation, privacy concerns, and overreliance. Overall, 61.77% of participants were willing to use ChatGPT, with significant variation by age (p = 0.030). Regression analysis showed that higher awareness (β = 0.41, p < 0.001) and trust (β = 0.36, p < 0.001) were positively associated with willingness, while risk perception was negatively associated (β = -0.12, p = 0.019). Gender and education were not statistically significant predictors.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights generally high awareness and positive perceptions of ChatGPT among adults in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia, with moderate levels of trust and perceived usefulness and concerns related to misinformation, privacy, and safety. Higher awareness and greater trust and perceived usefulness were associated with increased willingness to use ChatGPT, while perceived risks were associated with lower willingness to use ChatGPT. Variations across age and educational levels indicate differences in familiarity and confidence in AI tools. Overall, the findings reflect cautious but favorable openness toward AI in healthcare and emphasize the need for improved AI literacy, trust-building strategies, and regulatory oversight to support safe and informed engagement with generative AI technologies. The use of convenience sampling may limit the generalizability of the findings.