Roles and Competencies of Doctors in Artificial Intelligence Implementation: Qualitative Analysis Through Physician...

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Healthcare Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) involves using technology to emulate human intelligence.
• AI's impact on healthcare is recognized, but its effect on the patient-physician relationship remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how AI integration affects the physician's role and the patient-physician relationship.
• To identify concerns regarding AI in the medical field.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis of focus group interviews with 9 physicians.
• Interviews conducted in Tokyo suburbs using a guided question format.
• Data saturation achieved through iterative interviewing, analysis, and discussion.

Main Results:

• Identified three core categories: AI-replaceable functions, enduring physician roles, and AI-era concerns.
• Physician roles will shift, with AI handling some tasks and creating new, data-driven functions.
• Physician responsibility and value-based commitment will become more critical, increasing patient expectations.

Conclusions:

• AI implementation will transform medical processes for both physicians and patients.
• Interdisciplinary dialogue is crucial to address challenges and adapt to AI in medicine.