Study: 80% of AI Health Users Return to Trusted Sites
San Diego – September 18, 2026 -- A new AI Patient Journey Study from Luth Research finds that roughly 80 percent of patients who use AI for health information pair it with other sources, forming a group the firm labels "hybrid researchers." The study tracked more than 1,500 consumers digitally and surveyed over 500 patients to map movement between AI tools, search engines, and health information sites.
AI speeds initial queries but trusted sites close the decision loop
Patients turn to AI first for speed and plain-language answers: 47 percent use it to explore a doctor's explanation more deeply, and 44 percent say asking AI is easier than asking their physician. When preparing for an appointment or making a treatment decision, reliance shifts to established health information sites trusted for clinical accuracy, which are used by 6 in 10 AI users as a companion source.