General practitioners’ adoption of generative artificial intelligence in clinical practice in the UK: An updated online survey

Abstract

Background: Following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, interest in large language model-powered chatbots has soared with increasing focus on the clinical potential of these tools. Building on a previous survey conducted in 2024, we sought to gauge general practitioners' (GPs) adoption of this new generation of chatbots to assist with any aspect of clinical practice in the UK. Methods: An online survey was disseminated in January 2025 to a stratified convenience sample of GPs registered with the clinician marketing platform Doctors.net.uk. The research was conducted as part of a scheduled monthly 'omnibus survey,' designed to achieve a fixed sample size of 1000 participants. Results: Of the 1005 respondents, 50% respondents were men, 54% were 46 years or older. 25% reported using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools in clinical practice; of these, 35% reported using these tools to generate documentation after patient appointments, 27% to suggest a differential diagnosis, 24% for treatment options, and 24% for referrals. Of the 249 GPs who used generative AI for clinical tasks, 71% said that, in general, these tools reduced work burdens. In the last 12 months, 85% reported that their employer had not encouraged them to use GenAI tools, but only 3% said their employer had prohibited them from using GenAI tools in their work; 95% reported they had no professional training in using GenAI tools in their work. Conclusions: This survey suggests that doctors' use of GenAI in clinical practice may be growing in the UK. Findings suggest that UK GPs may benefit from these tools, especially for administrative tasks and clinical reasoning support, and after adopting them, most users reported a decrease in work burdens. Continued absence of reported training remains a concern.

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