Comparing preferences for skin cancer screening: AI-enabled app vs dermatologist

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Technology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Skin cancer is a significant public health concern, with low adherence to recommended self-examinations and professional screenings.
• Mobile health (mHealth) apps using artificial intelligence (AI) show promise for skin cancer screening but face low user adoption.
• Understanding user and provider characteristics is crucial for improving skin cancer screening accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing patient decisions between mHealth app-based and dermatologist-provided skin cancer screening.
• To identify key provider attributes (cost, expertise, privacy, results) and user characteristics (demographics, AI attitudes, medical mistrust) affecting screening preferences.

Main Methods:

• Two online conjoint experiments involving 1,591 and 308 US participants.
• Forced-choice tasks evaluated preferences for mHealth apps versus dermatologists, manipulating provider attributes.
• Questionnaires assessed user demographics, AI attitudes, and medical mistrust.

Main Results:

• Dermatologists were significantly preferred over mHealth apps for skin cancer screening.
• Cost, expertise, and privacy policy were significant factors influencing provider choice.
• Individuals with higher medical mistrust showed a greater preference for mHealth apps.

Conclusions:

• Dermatologist preference highlights the need to build trust and perceived quality in mHealth screening tools.
• Findings inform developers, providers, and policymakers on enhancing mHealth app uptake for skin cancer screening.
• Optimizing mHealth apps can help bridge healthcare gaps, particularly in underserved populations.