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To what extent can Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare support healthcare professionals (HCPs) and affect patient outcomes? What are the pros and cons of AI in healthcare? See what thousands of HCPs in 14 countries think in the results from M3’s internal survey.
AI has the capacity to reshape the healthcare landscape, leading to transformative shifts in the field of medicine. AI applications, including X-ray analysis, drug development, and cancer detection, have already been tested and proven to yield efficient and highly accurate results.
The recent commercialisation of AI tools, including the accessibility of language models like ChatGPT, has further highlighted AI’s potential role in the medical sector. The continued expansion of AI technologies fuels discussions and debates regarding their broader integration into the realm of patient care, along with the potential risks and benefits associated with such integration.
In a previous M3 Pulse survey, conducted with more than 2400 M3 members, we explored HCPs concerns surrounding Artificial Intelligence and patient self-diagnosing. The findings revealed close to 50% of HCPs are either concerned or very concerned regarding AI’s involvement in self-diagnosis. To gain a deeper understanding of HCPs perspectives on AI’s applications in healthcare, we initiated a global survey spanning 14 countries and involving over 6500 HCPs.
- Can AI Applications Support HCPs when Treating Patients?
- HCPs Attitudes Towards AI Accessing Patient Data and Monitoring Their Work
- What do HCPs Think of AI Applications in Healthcare for Non-clinical Services?
- HCPs Take on Benefits Versus Risks of AI Applications in Healthcare
- Complete M3 Survey Results: AI Applications in Healthcare
Let us know what you think about AI applications in healthcare as a HCP by leaving a comment in the section below.
Can AI Applications Support HCPs When Treating Patients?
One of the widely discussed emerging roles of AI applications in healthcare is its ability to reduce HCPs workload and help assist in making accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions. By rapidly processing extensive healthcare data, recognising patterns, and offering evidence-based insights and medical advice, AI could help assist HCPs in making quicker and more accurate decisions when treating patients.
M3 Survey Insights: See the full results below
69% of respondents agree AI data insights could benefit and complement HCPs to make better and more informed decisions when diagnosing and treating patients, while 11% disagree and think AI data insights cannot complement, nor replace, HCPs decision-making.
Although most of the respondents believe AI applications in healthcare can benefit their work and patient outcomes, there are several concerns around implementing AI in healthcare, as it requires Artificial Intelligence tools to access large amounts of healthcare and patient data.
HCPs Attitudes Towards AI Accessing Patient Data and Monitoring Their Work
The integration of AI applications in healthcare brings forth important considerations surrounding data privacy, the accuracy of AI algorithms, and the potential loss of professional autonomy if Artificial Intelligence is employed as a monitoring system to track medical errors.
Recent systematic reviews of AI applications in healthcare indicate that AI-enabled decision support systems, when implemented correctly, can enhance patient safety by improving error detection, patient stratification, and drug management.
M3 Survey Insights: See the full results below
74% of HCPs feel concerned about data risks and AI monitoring systems. They worry about privacy, patient confidentiality, job replacement by AI, and the impact of AI monitoring systems on medical error reporting and clinical decision-making.
On the other hand, almost 80% of HCPs recognise AI can have a positive effect on patient outcomes by reducing margin errors in diagnosis and treatment, helping accelerate and improve patient treatments.
While AI monitoring could enhance care quality, HCPs worry about their clinical expertise being reduced to quantitative metrics. Trust in AI’s accuracy will play a key role as HCPs acceptance of AI’s role in data analysis and AI monitoring will depend on their confidence in AI’s reliability. In the future, addressing these concerns through transparent communication, robust data security measures, and clear ethical guidelines will be pivotal for the successful integration of AI in healthcare.
Explore the M3 survey findings on HCPs views regarding Medical Errors and Self-Reporting in Healthcare.
What do HCPs Think of AI Applications in Healthcare for Non-clinical Services?
Today, rising costs and an overworked healthcare workforce are serious issues within the global healthcare landscape. There is a great vision of how AI can help address these challenges by substantially reducing healthcare costs and alleviating some of the strain on healthcare providers and the healthcare system.
M3 Survey Insights: See the full results below
The three top benefits of AI applications for non-clinical services according to HCPs:
1. 31% believe AI can help reduce burnout among HCPs by automating administrative tasks
2. 27% believe AI technologies can save the healthcare system and patients time and money
3. 26% responded that hospitals can financially benefit from AI automations
Administrative tasks and predictive analysis could be automated with the help of AI, enabling HCPs to concentrate on complex cases, critical decision-making, and direct patient interactions. Nevertheless, there are several concerns, challenges, and risks that need to be addressed before AI applications in healthcare can become mainstream.
HCPs Take on Benefits Versus Risks of AI Applications in Healthcare
It’s evident the majority of HCPs believe AI can significantly benefit both their work and the healthcare system as a whole. However, concerns about potential challenges in AI implementation and integration within healthcare are prevalent. These concerns include risks related to incorrect or imprecise diagnoses, inadequate treatment plans, data privacy and security, as well as worries about losing professional autonomy or work to AI.
Despite risks and concerns, 64% of respondents believe the potential benefits of AI applications in healthcare outweigh the risks, while 15% consider it too risky.
Discover the perspectives of over 6500 HCPs across 14 countries in Europe and the USA regarding the pros and cons of AI applications in healthcare in the complete M3 survey results below.
Complete M3 Survey Results: Click to select your language
Do you agree as a healthcare professional? What are the pros and cons of AI in healthcare? Can AI applications in healthcare help improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare providers’ workload, and financially support hospitals? Leave a comment below and share this article with a colleague via social media:
What Are the Pros and Cons of AI in Healthcare?
What Are the Pros and Cons of AI in Healthcare?
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