Elsevier Survey Reveals Growing Clinician AI Adoption Despite Trust and Training Gaps

A comprehensive survey of 2,206 clinicians across 109 countries reveals that healthcare professionals are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence while expressing concerns about trust, reliability, and institutional support. Elsevier's Clinician of the Future 2025 annual insights report shows that 48% of clinicians have used AI tools for work, nearly doubling from 26% reported in the previous year's survey.

The report highlights significant optimism among physicians and nurses about AI's potential to address healthcare challenges. Seventy percent of respondents believe clinical AI tools can save them time, while 58% see potential for enhanced diagnostic speed, 54% for improved diagnostic accuracy, and 55% for better patient outcomes. This enthusiasm comes as clinicians face mounting pressures, with 69% reporting increased patient volumes compared to two years ago and 28% admitting they lack sufficient time to deliver quality care.

Geographic disparities in AI adoption are notable, with usage highest among respondents from China at 71%, while the United States and United Kingdom lag behind at 36% and 34% respectively. The survey reveals that 97% of AI-using clinicians rely on generalist tools such as ChatGPT, while only 76% have used specialized clinical AI tools designed specifically for healthcare applications.

Despite widespread recognition of AI's benefits, a significant gap exists between enthusiasm and actual implementation. While 41% of clinicians believe that those using AI tools will deliver higher quality care than those who don't within two to three years, only 16% currently use AI for clinical decision-making. An additional 48% expressed desire to use AI for clinical determinations but have not yet integrated it into their practice.

Trust remains a critical factor in AI adoption. Clinicians identified several features that would increase their confidence in clinical-specific AI tools, including automatic citation of references (68%), training on high-quality peer-reviewed content (65%), and utilization of the latest resources (64%). The desire for factually accurate AI tools is particularly strong in the US (75%) and UK (81%).

Institutional barriers present significant challenges to AI implementation. Only 32% of surveyed clinicians feel their institution provides adequate access to AI technologies, while just 30% have received sufficient training. The need for proper AI governance is also evident, with only 29% of respondents indicating their organization provides adequate oversight and management of AI tools.

"As the healthcare industry continues to grapple with increased demands and limited resources, clinicians have identified many opportunities for AI to provide quality care faster and to help improve patient outcomes. This is a transformative time and we look forward to working alongside the healthcare community to harness the full potential of AI to deliver for patients," said Jan Herzhoff, President of Elsevier Health.

The survey also revealed concerning statistics about clinician wellbeing, with nearly half (47%) believing tiredness has impaired their ability to treat patients effectively. This underscores the urgent need for solutions that can alleviate clinician burden while maintaining or improving care quality.