Feasibility of Generative AI Adoption in Hypertension Self-Care in A Low- to Middle-Income Country: A Focus Group Discussion amongst Healthcare Workers

Generative AI to improve self-efficacy in hypertension care has been found useful in hypertension self-care in resource-limited settings. Perceptions of health workers on its adoption and usefulness in hypertension care are unknown.

To evaluate the perspective of health workers in hypertension care on the adoption and utility of a chatbot (the healthy heart assistant) for patients’ hypertension self-care.

A focus group discussion for 10 carefully selected health workers in hypertension care at the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Discussions were stimulated and fine-tuned by a semi-structured interview guide on generative AI and hypertension self-care. All discussions were recorded and subsequently analyzed using a thematic approach into domains, themes, and subthemes.

Health care workers had low knowledge of Generative AI in hypertension self-care. They had considerable experience with patient counselling and training of students in hypertension care. They also perceived the HHA as a useful guide for patients and students, as well as an aid in counselling their patients. Surprisingly, they did not report AI phobia as concerning job security but rather viewed the HHA as a resourceful tool in reducing bureaucracy of care in busy clinics.

This study shows that health workers approved of the adoption of Generative AI for hypertension self-care in resource-limited settings given its pluripotent potential. Chatbots are useful educational tools for patients, students and health care workers alike.