Cited by 112Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and EducationEthics and Social Impacts of AIArtificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other large language models for social determinants of health: Current state and future directions

Open access
Ong, Jasmine Chiat Ling, Seng, Benjamin Jun Jie, Law, Jeren Zheng Feng, Low, Lian Leng, Kwa, Andrea Lay Hoon, Giacomini, Kathleen M., Ting, Daniel Shu Wei·2024·Cell Reports Medicine

Abstract

This perspective highlights the importance of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) in patient health outcomes and health inequity, a global problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide a broad discussion on current developments in digital health and artificial intelligence (AI), including large language models (LLMs), as transformative tools in addressing SDOH factors, offering new capabilities for disease surveillance and patient care. Simultaneously, we bring attention to challenges, such as data standardization, infrastructure limitations, digital literacy, and algorithmic bias, that could hinder equitable access to AI benefits. For LLMs, we highlight potential unique challenges and risks including environmental impact, unfair labor practices, inadvertent disinformation or "hallucinations," proliferation of bias, and infringement of copyrights. We propose the need for a multitiered approach to digital inclusion as an SDOH and the development of ethical and responsible AI practice frameworks globally and provide suggestions on bridging the gap from development to implementation of equitable AI technologies.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101356

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  • Recent studies have utilized large language models (LLMs) for the identification of SDoH factors.

    “Recent studies have utilized the use of large language models (LLMs) for the identification of SDoH factors19,24,45,46.”
  • Many studies, even recent ones, have focused on a limited set of SDoH factors (up to 8 factors).

    “Firstly, many studies, even the recent ones19–25 have focused on a limited set of SDoH factors (up to 8 factors).”

    From Social determinants of health extraction from clinical notes across institutions using large language models (2025) · cites this paper as [19]

    The SDOH section describes gaps in research on complex determinants, and the ‘Research on SDOH and health outcomes’ section names determinants emphasized in several reviews. Neither says that many studies, including recent ones, examined no more than eight SDoH factors. Searches for a limited number of factors and the eight-factor threshold found no passage establishing that claim. (LLM, conf=0.70)

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3 of the 94 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [16]Editorial Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) NEJM Catalyst 2017 https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.17.0312 · DOI
  2. [52]Bender E.M. Gebru T. McMillan-Major A. Shmitchell S. On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots Proceedings of the 2021 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency 2021 610 623 2023
  3. [55]Robeznieks A. Quality data Is Key to Addressing Social Determinants of Health 2023 https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-equity/quality-data-key-addressing-social-determinants-health

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Authors
Ong, J. C. L., Seng, B. J. J., Law, J. Z. F., Low, L. L., Kwa, A. L. H., Giacomini, K. M., & Ting, D. S. W.
Affiliations
  • SingHealth (SG)
  • National University of Singapore (SG)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Ting, Daniel Shu Wei
Venue
Cell Reports Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-01
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
101356
ISSN
2666-3791 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4390921272
Cited by
111
References
94
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 28
FWCI
2.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Reports Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A20H4g2141, H20C6a0032, MOH-CIAINV21nov-001)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Keywords
social determinants of health, large language models, ChatGPT, artificial intelligence in healthcare, health disparities, digital health, disease surveillance, algorithmic bias, digital literacy, digital inclusion, environmental impact of AI, AI hallucination, copyright infringement, AI ethics framework, COVID-19 pandemic
MeSH terms
COVID-19, Artificial Intelligence, Humans, Language, Pandemics, Social Determinants of Health

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