Patients’, clinicians’ and developers’ perspectives and experiences of artificial intelligence in cardiac healthcare: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective This study investigated perspectives and experiences of artificial intelligence (AI) developers, clinicians and patients about the use of AI-based software in cardiac healthcare. Methods A qualitative study took place at two hospitals in England that had trialled AI-based software use in stress echocardiography, a scan that uses ultrasound to assess heart function. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with: patients ( n = 9), clinicians ( n = 16) and AI software developers ( n = 5). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Potential benefits identified were increasing consistency and reliability through reducing human error, and greater efficiency. Concerns included over-reliance on the AI technology, and data security. Participants discussed the need for human input and empathy within healthcare, transparency about AI use, and issues around trusting AI. Participants considered AI's role as assisting diagnosis but not replacing clinician involvement. Clinicians and patients emphasised holistic diagnosis that involves more than the scan. Clinicians considered their diagnostic ability as superior and discrepancies were managed in line with clinicians’ diagnoses rather than AI reports. The practicalities of using the AI software concerned image acquisition to meet AI processing requirements and workflow integration. Conclusions There was positivity towards AI use, but the AI software was considered an adjunct to clinicians rather than replacing their input. Clinicians’ experiences were that their diagnostic ability remained superior to the AI, and acquiring images acceptable to AI was sometimes problematic. Despite hopes for increased efficiency through AI use, clinicians struggled to identify fit with clinical workflow to bring benefit.

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