AI and healthcare: surveying patient perspectives on artificial intelligence in neurosurgery

Neurosurgery and neurosurgical care continues to evolve and to embrace technological advances. AI is used to interpret radiological studies and to distill medical information, with the potential to help guide physicians and patients in their treatment plans. AI offers the promise to physicians of increased efficiency for patient care, documentation, and administrative tasks. However, there is a lack of literature describing patient perspectives on the use of AI in neurosurgery, particularly in the outpatient setting. The objective of this study is to determine patients' level of comfort with AI in the clinical setting and with which roles they would accept its utilization. A qualitative survey was administered to patients at a suburban private practice neurosurgical outpatient office. The survey recorded demographic information and patient perceptions on the use of AI in the office setting, answering patient questions, and in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions using a Likert scale. A total of 118 surveys were completed by patients. The majority of patients supported the utilization of AI for billing and scheduling tasks as well as for answering any potential disease process or procedural questions, but the majority did not support the use of AI in neurosurgical procedures. In patients younger than 65, males, and those with a bachelor's degree or higher, support was demonstrated for AI in both office roles and in neurosurgical procedures. AI has the potential to reduce administrative burden on physicians and increase face to face patient time with the support of patients.