Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Oncology Care: Pediatric Nurses' Perspectives and Future Implications

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Pediatric Oncology

Background:

• Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is rapidly advancing.
• Understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives is crucial for successful technology adoption.
• Pediatric oncology presents unique challenges and opportunities for AI implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore pediatric oncology nurses' views on AI integration.
• To identify perceived advantages, challenges, and ethical considerations of AI in pediatric oncology care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive phenomenological design.
• Semistructured interviews with 18 pediatric oncology nurses.
• Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's framework.

Main Results:

• Nurses identified AI's potential in diagnostics, treatment, error reduction, and patient safety.
• Key challenges include infrastructure, ethical dilemmas, and skill gaps.
• Themes emerged around nurse-AI collaboration and training needs.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric oncology nurses view AI as a valuable tool for decision-making and efficiency.
• Ethical concerns, infrastructure, and training are significant barriers to AI integration.
• Enhancing technological competencies and ethical safeguards is vital for effective AI adoption.