Survey: nurses cautiously optimistic about AI
Around half of nurses and midwives are excited by the prospect of using artificial intelligence (AI) as part of their jobs, a new survey has suggested.
The Health Foundation has this week published a report into the use of AI in healthcare, featuring a survey of 1,292 NHS workers, including medical, nursing, allied health professionals and clerical staff, and of more than 7,000 members of the public.
“It’s crucial to engage people in a conversation about the future of healthcare – in order to understand and address their concerns”
Tim Horton
Overall, the surveys suggested that a higher proportion of NHS staff than members of the public were optimistic about AI in healthcare – and that patients would only trust it if outputs were checked by staff.
More than half (54%) of registered nurses and midwives told the survey they “look forward” to using AI as part of their job, with 19% saying they were not looking forward to it. Around a quarter (26%) said they have no strong feelings either way.
Other clinicians were more optimistic: 67% of medical and dental staff and 62% of allied health professionals said they looked forward to using AI in their jobs – the overall figure standing at 57% of surveyed NHS staff responding positiviely.
The majority of NHS staff surveyed (81%) said they would support AI being used for administrative purposes, and 76% supported using it for patient care. The public, meanwhile, was less enthusiastic, responding 61% and 54% in favour respectively.
More members of the public (33%) thought AI would improve care quality than thought it would worsen it (18%). However, 33% thought it would make no difference.
Both staff and public groups said AI’s lack of empathy and “kindness” was one of its greatest disadvantages.
A total of 65% of NHS staff and 53% of the public said AI systems would make them “feel more distant” from patients or healthcare staff, respectively.
The survey also showed concerns about the accuracy of AI.
Most patient respondents said they would be unhappy for an AI to choose treatment, decide when they are seen, support a diagnosis, predict a disease or record appointment notes if the outputs were not checked by staff.
More than half of the member of the public respondents said they would be happy for an AI to create a clinical letter without supervision from staff, though.
Further, the vast majority of people said it was important to them that they were told when AI has been used to do any task related to their care.
The Health Foundation said the survey results showed a “broadly receptive” environment for the use of AI in the NHS, but that policymakers must address the issues causing mistrust towards the new technology before it is rolled out further.
Responding to the report, Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers deputy chief executive, acknowledged the use cases for AI and said it could bring “major benefits” to healthcare at a time when the health service was under increasing pressure.
However, she said: “There is also scepticism and concern amongst some patients and staff about the impact on care quality, the accuracy of decision making by AI and worries that care could become less personal.
“It is vital that as new technologies are developed and rolled out, the needs of patients and their families are put front and centre to ensure these new services are trusted and that risks are mitigated.
“It is also important that the opportunities presented by AI advances to transform care for patients and improve access to services do not come at the expense of critical investment in core NHS digital and IT infrastructure or in developing the skills of staff who will need to adapt to these new ways of working.”
Assistant director of insight and analysis at the Health Foundation, Tim Horton, said for AI’s “potential” to be realised, it must “command the confidence” of both the public and NHS staff.
He added: “The Health Foundation’s research suggests the public and NHS staff, on balance, support the use of AI for clinical and administrative purposes.
“But some remain unconvinced, and so it’s crucial to engage people in a conversation about the future of health care – in order to understand and address their concerns.
“It’s clear the public want a human to remain ‘in the loop’ for many uses of AI in healthcare, and they want AI technologies to be designed and used in ways that protect the human dimension of care.
“Our research also suggests the impact of AI will be felt differently across roles in healthcare, and so in helping staff adjust to the rise of AI, policymakers and NHS leaders will need to tailor the support they provide.”
