Stakeholder perspectives on AI-assisted pain assessment in pediatrics: A qualitative study of shared needs and...

Pain management remains a significant challenge in pediatric care, where pain is frequently under-assessed and undertreated. Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into healthcare, yet its practical implementation in pediatric pain management remains limited. A systematic understanding of stakeholder perceptions is crucial for designing ethically sound, effective, and sustainable AI‑driven solutions in this sensitive domain. This study aimed to explore stakeholder needs, implementation priorities, and barriers regarding AI‑based pain assessment in pediatric care. Individual interviews guided by the Technology Acceptance Model were conducted from September to October 2025 with 35 participants: 11 children, 12 family caregivers, and 12 medical staff. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. All groups identified the core value of AI as providing objective, continuous monitoring to counter episodic human assessment. Priorities diverged: medical staff emphasized clinical decision support; family caregivers valued empowerment via real‑time information; children sought communication facilitation and emotional support. A consensus held that AI should aid, not replace, clinical judgment. Key adoption barriers included workload and integration challenges, with willingness to use hinging on proven accuracy, workflow compatibility, and safety. This study reveals significant disparities in stakeholder priorities for AI in pediatric pain care. Although all groups endorse AI as a clinical aid, its successful implementation hinges on seamless workflow integration and establishing trust. These findings provide stakeholder‑informed guidance to translate AI tools into clinical practice, with the goal of improving pain assessment accuracy, reducing under‑assessment, and enhancing the quality and equity of pediatric pain management. PERSPECTIVE: These findings offer critical clinical guidance for implementing AI tools that align with stakeholder needs, ultimately enhancing pain recognition, supporting timely interventions, and advancing person-centered pediatric pain care.