Preparing for an AI-enabled Future: Patient perspectives on engagement and health care professional training for adopting AI technologies in health care settings
ABSTRACT
Background:
As new technologies emerge, there is a significant shift in the way care is delivered on a global scale. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been rapidly and inexorably used to optimize patient outcomes, reduce health system costs, improve workflow efficiency, and enhance population health. Despite the widespread adoption of AI technologies, the literature on patient engagement and their perspectives on how AI will affect clinical care are scarce. Minimal patient engagement can limit the optimization of these novel technologies and contribute to suboptimal use in care settings.
Objective:
To explore patients’ views on what skills they believe health care professionals should have in preparation for this AI-enabled future and how we can better engage patients when adopting and deploying AI technologies in health care settings.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted from August 2020 and December 2021 with 12 individuals who were a patient in any Canadian health care setting. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation occurred. A thematic analysis approach outlined by Braun and Clarke was used to inductively analyze the data and identify overarching themes.
Results:
Among the 12 patients interviewed, 8 (67%) were from urban settings, and 4 (33%) were from rural settings. A majority of the participants were very comfortable with technology and somewhat familiar with AI. Three themes emerged: 1) cultivating patients’ trust, (2) fostering patient engagement, and (3) establishing data governance and validation of AI technologies.
Conclusions:
With the rapid surge of AI solutions, there is a critical need to understand patient values in advancing the quality of care and contributing to an equitable health system. Our study demonstrated that health care professionals have a synergetic role in the future of AI and digital technologies. Patient engagement is vital in addressing the underlying health inequities and fostering an optimal care experience. Future research is warranted to understand and capture the diverse perspectives from patients with various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Citation
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Copyright
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