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Medscape’s 2024 survey of over 5000 practicing clinicians from six European countries has showed there is more enthusiasm than apprehension about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine. However, many doctors have reasonable concerns, and the survey reveals a worrying knowledge gap among physicians.

Experts predict that it is inevitable that AI will become integrated into mainstream healthcare within 5-10 years, and both physicians and experts agree that regulation and oversight are needed now.

Physicians’ balance of views is “notable” and “both practical and positive”, said Eric Sutherland, senior health economist for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s AI in Health expert group, speaking to Medscape Medical News . He said that the findings of Medscape’s European Doctors and AI report echo a survey of medical associations that the OECD will publish this month.

“There is a degree of caution, while there is also enthusiasm for the potential of AI to improve health outcomes,” he said. However, “the reality is that the digital age has brought great promise for doctors and health providers, but those promises have failed to live up to the hype.” For physicians, “there are real reasons to be apprehensive,” he said, including concerns about potential job loss, impacts on the nature of the job, effects on the provider-patient relationship, and concerns about the quality of AI solutions. Physicians’ Concerns About AI

Some survey respondents were worried about the effects of AI on physician autonomy or replacing clinical judgment and expertise and about patients believing AI-generated misinformation or using AI for self-diagnosis.

While the consensus was that AI use by doctors in healthcare will reduce the risks for misdiagnosis, medical error, and malpractice, Sutherland highlighted the “not insignificant portion” predicting increased risks.

“It is reasonable to be concerned,” he said, otherwise we are “blindly trusting a technology” when we should be taking active steps to understand and address these risks.

A particular concern is AI being trained on poor-quality datasets that may have limited applicability. However, he believes that good quality data applied by medical professionals trained in using AI solutions “can reduce medical error and improve […]

‘Inevitable’ That AI Will Be Integrated Into Medical Care