Clinicians ready to use AI to reduce global health system pressures: Report

A report by Elsevier Health reveals that nearly half of doctors and nurses are enthusiastic about the future use of generative AI in supporting clinical decision-making, emphasising the need for a technological transformation in healthcare. The "Clinician of the Future 2023" study, building upon the previous year's report, reflects the opinions of 2,607 healthcare professionals globally.

Key findings from the report:

Clinician shortages remain a significant concern, with 54% identifying nurse shortages and 45% reporting doctor shortages. This highlights the urgency of implementing innovative solutions like generative AI to address these shortages and enhance clinical readiness.

Physicians recognise the need to become proficient in digital health technologies, with 73% agreeing that this skill will be desirable in the next 2-3 years.

While currently, only 11% of clinical decisions are assisted by generative AI tools, 48% of respondents believe that physicians using such tools for decision-making will be desirable in the next 2-3 years.

China shows more optimism about generative AI adoption, with 53% of clinicians favouring its use in the next 2-3 years, compared to 42% in the US and 34% in the UK.

The report suggests that clinicians anticipate having fewer in-person interactions by 2028, with 55% finding telehealth desirable for routine check-ups in 2-3 years.

More than half (51%) of clinicians support the idea of medical students using generative AI-powered tools in their education in the next 2-3 years. However, the UK and the US are more cautious, with lower percentages finding this desirable (33% in the UK and 40% in the US).

The report underscores the importance of equipping clinicians with advanced tools and training to empower them to allocate more time to patient care. It also highlights that healthcare professionals recognise the potential of new technologies like generative AI to innovate global healthcare and improve patient care both now and in the future as healthcare systems transition toward a digital-first approach.

Click here to read the original news story. Access the full report here.