Examining inclusivity: the use of AI and diverse populations in health and social care: a systematic review
Anand, Prathivadi B.
Anand, Prathivadi B.
Publication Date
2025-02-05
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© The Authors 2025. Published by Springer Nature. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and
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openAccess
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2025-01-20
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Abstract
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems are being rapidly integrated into the fields of health and social care. Although such systems can substantially improve the provision of care, diverse and marginalized populations are often incorrectly or insufficiently represented within these systems. This review aims to assess the influence of AI on health and social care among these populations, particularly with regard to issues related to inclusivity and regulatory concerns.
Methods
We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Six leading databases were searched, and 129 articles were selected for this review in line with predefined eligibility criteria.
Results
This research revealed disparities in AI outcomes, accessibility, and representation among diverse groups due to biased data sources and a lack of representation in training datasets, which can potentially exacerbate inequalities in care delivery for marginalized communities.
Conclusion
AI development practices, legal frameworks, and policies must be reformulated to ensure that AI is applied in an equitable manner. A holistic approach must be used to address disparities, enforce effective regulations, safeguard privacy, promote inclusion and equity, and emphasize rigorous validation.
Version
Published version
Citation
Marko JGO, Neagu CD and Anand PB (2025) Examining inclusivity: the use of AI and diverse populations in health and social care: a systematic review. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. 25(57): 1-15.
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Article