Improving Health Literacy Knowledge Using AI-Assisted Technologies among University Lecturers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65861/glj.v31i1.7Keywords:
Health Literacy, AI-Assisted Technologies, University Lecturers, Healthcare Monitoring, Wearable DevicesAbstract
University lecturers play a pivotal role in shaping the academic landscape, contributing significantly to research output and academic libraries’ repositories. Their health literacy is crucial not only for personal well-being but also for sustaining scholarly productivity. The advent of AI technologies in healthcare introduces new avenues for improving health literacy among university lecturers. Wearable devices, virtual assistants, predictive analytics and AI-assisted diagnosis tools offer personalized health insights, empowering lecturers to make informed decisions about their well-being. This explorative qualitative study, conducted at a public university in Ghana, investigated the utilisation of AI-assisted technologies among lecturers to improve their health literacy knowledge. Using purposive and snowball sampling procedures, semi-structured interviews were conducted for twenty experienced lecturers below the age of 50 years, with over 5 years of teaching experience, who use AI-assisted technologies for health monitoring. The findings revealed that AI-assisted technologies have the potential to positively influence lecturers’ health behaviours, promote proactive steps towards healthier lifestyles and improve well-being; AI-assisted technologies give users early signals to health complications; health information provided by these technologies should be confirmed with a medical practitioner. The study further revealed concerns of lecturers regarding privacy, potential health risks and psychological consequences associated with constant self-monitoring using AI-assisted technologies. The study concludes that AI-assisted technologies have the potential of enhancing health literacy among university lecturers.
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