How AI is transforming patient care in Canada—before the first visit
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HN Summary
• New study reveals most Canadians don’t turn to AI for mental health support, with 57% saying they never use AI chatbots for help in this area.
• Most Canadians use AI for mental and medical support because it is more convenient and immediate than seeing a real doctor (49%).
• Only 5% of Canadians use AI chatbots for medical advice on a daily basis. Nearly half (49%) never use it for this purpose.
Artificial intelligence is already influencing how Canadians understand, manage, and act on their health—often before they ever step into a clinic. For healthcare professionals, this shift is subtle but significant: patients are increasingly arriving with AI-informed perspectives, questions, and, in some cases, misconceptions.
New survey data from Compare the Market, based on more than 3,000 respondents across Canada, the United States and Australia, provides a clearer picture of how AI is being used in everyday health decisions. While adoption in Canada remains moderate, the data points to a growing role for AI as a front-line support tool.
AI is part of the patient journey
Even when AI use is not frequent, it is increasingly embedded in how patients gather information and make decisions about their health. Understanding this baseline behaviour is critical for clinicians navigating modern patient interactions.
• 57% say they never use AI for mental health support
• 49% say they never use AI for medical advice
• However, nearly half report using AI tools at least occasionally for health-related questions
Younger Canadians are leading adoption, suggesting that AI will become more embedded in patient behaviour over time.
How Canadians Are Using AI for Health Support
This chart highlights where AI is most commonly influencing patient behaviour, particularly in low-acuity and decision-support scenarios that often precede clinical visits.
Use Case % of Canadians
Cold/flu symptoms 37%
Decide whether to see a doctor 32%
Nutritional advice 31%
Medication advice 29%
Fitness/physical activity 29%
Mental health support 43%
Courtesy of: Compare the Market – “How AI is Transforming Health” study
What patients are asking AI
AI is often being used as a first step for reassurance, clarification, or emotional support. These early interactions can shape how patients interpret symptoms and frame their concerns in clinical settings.
In mental health, the most common uses include:
• Anxiety (57%)
• Stress (52%)
• Depression (40%)
In physical health, patients are using AI to:
• Interpret symptoms
• Determine next steps (e.g., whether to seek care)
• Get general lifestyle or medication guidance
Top Reasons Canadians Use AI for Health Support
Understanding why patients turn to AI helps explain its growing role in care pathways—and where it may be filling gaps in access, affordability, or comfort.
Reason % of Canadians
Convenience / immediacy 49%
Accessibility 41%
Affordability 37%
Curiosity 43%
Anonymity 28%
Courtesy of: Compare the Market – “How AI is Transforming Health” study
Clinical reality: Patients are arriving pre-informed
AI is not just a background tool—it is actively shaping patient expectations and perceptions before clinical encounters. Recognizing this can help clinicians better interpret patient concerns and starting points.
Patients may come into appointments with:
• Self-assessments or suspected diagnoses
• AI-generated advice or treatment ideas
• Reassurance that delays seeking care
• Anxiety based on incorrect or incomplete information
At the same time, some patients report positive impacts, with roughly half saying AI has improved their health in some way.
Talking to Patients About AI
Proactively addressing AI use can strengthen communication and reduce the risk of misunderstanding. Integrating these conversations into routine care helps align patient expectations with clinical guidance.
Practical approaches:
1. Ask directly—but neutrally
“Have you looked anything up or used any tools to understand this?”
2. Acknowledge effort
Patients using AI are often trying to be proactive. Recognizing this can build rapport.
3. Clarify limitations
Explain where AI is helpful—and where clinical expertise is essential.
4. Correct gently, not dismissively
Frame corrections as collaboration, not contradiction.
5. Set expectations
Help patients understand when to rely on AI and when to seek care.
A Complementary Role—For Now
While AI is becoming more visible in patient behaviour, it has not replaced traditional care pathways. Instead, it is emerging as an additional layer that patients consult alongside professional advice.
Despite growing use, most Canadians are not ready to replace human care with AI. Only a small percentage use AI daily, and many remain unsure of its effectiveness.
A notable proportion, however, view AI as comparable to professional support—particularly in mental health contexts.
As Steven Spicer, Executive General Manager of Health at Compare the Market, notes:
AI tools can provide fast, accessible support—but they should complement, not replace, qualified healthcare professionals.
What This Means for Healthcare Professionals
The growing presence of AI in patient decision-making requires awareness, adaptability, and clear communication. It represents a shift not in clinical authority, but in how patients arrive at the point of care.
Patients are:
• Seeking answers earlier
• Forming opinions before consultations
• Expecting faster, clearer guidance
For healthcare professionals, the opportunity lies in:
• Understanding AI’s role in patient behaviour
• Addressing misinformation early
• Reinforcing evidence-based care
• Integrating digital awareness into patient communication
The Bottom Line
AI is already part of your patients’ care journey—before the first visit. The opportunity for healthcare professionals is not to compete with it, but to contextualize it—ensuring patients receive accurate, safe, and personalized care in an increasingly digital-first world.
