Chinese Oncologists' Perspectives on Integrating AI into Clinical Practice: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing with potential oncology applications.
• AI tools are being adopted in Chinese hospitals, raising concerns among oncologists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Chinese oncologists' concerns regarding AI integration in clinical practice.
• To identify factors influencing these concerns.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional web-based survey of 228 Chinese oncologists was conducted.
• Survey questions addressed worries about AI, its impact on doctor-patient relationships, and potential job replacement.
• Data were analyzed using descriptive and variate analyses.

Main Results:

• Top concerns include AI misleading diagnosis/treatment (71.5%), overreliance (71%), data bias (54%), privacy (54%), and lagging regulations (50.4%).
• Oncologists with bachelor's degrees showed higher concern for data bias and regulatory lag.
• Over half (53.1%) perceived a positive impact of AI on doctor-patient relationships, while IT-experienced oncologists were more positive.

Conclusions:

• Addressing AI concerns necessitates collaboration among policymakers, developers, and healthcare professionals.
• Emphasis on transparency, human-centered design, bias mitigation, and education is crucial.
• A multidisciplinary strategy can facilitate effective AI integration in oncology, balancing benefits with ethical considerations.