Facilitators and barriers for using artificial intelligence in cancer pain assessment: a qualitative study

This study qualitatively explored healthcare providers' perception regarding the use of modern technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), in the assessment and management of cancer pain. It also aimed to identify barriers to adopting AI-based solutions in clinical settings.

In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of healthcare professionals between July and October 2023. Participants included physicians and nurses shared their insights into how AI technology could support their practices in managing cancer pain while also highlighting the challenges and barriers to its incorporation. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and sub-themes.

A total of 13 healthcare providers participated, comprising seven males (54%) and six females (46%), with a mean age of 36 ± 4 years. Their professional experience ranged from 3 to 16 years. The analysis revealed two primary themes: (1) facilitators for AI adoption in cancer pain management and (2) barriers to AI integration. Under the first theme, sub-themes included positive attitudes toward AI adoption, the potential for enhancing clinical efficiency, anticipated future advancements in AI, and support for training and implementation. Barriers included concerns about the reliability and technical limitations of AI, financial and resource constraints, resistance to change and preference for traditional methods, risks of miscommunication and misunderstanding, and dependency on developers' expertise for AI validation.

The findings indicate that while healthcare professionals generally perceive AI as a valuable tool in cancer pain management, successful implementation requires addressing concerns regarding trust, training, and resource availability. Ensuring adequate training and development confidence in AI's reliability are essential steps for integrating AI into routine clinical practice.