Obstacles to the Development of the Use of Artificial Intelligence from the Point of View of Physicians Working in Selected AJA Medical Centers: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study

Background: Considering the increasing use of decision support systems, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), in the field of medicine, our goal in this study was to identify, from the perspective of physicians working in AJA medical centers, the obstacles hindering the adoption and use of AI in the treatment and diagnosis of patients. Objectives: This study investigated the obstacles faced by specialist physicians working in AJA medical centers regarding the implementation of AI in their professional practice. Methods: A qualitative approach using contractual content analysis was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using the qualitative analysis method of Granheim and Lundman (2004) from May to July 2022. The study included 20 physicians working in selected AJA medical centers in Tehran. Sampling was conducted based on entry criteria and targeted to ensure maximum diversity. Results: The study involved 20 specialist physicians (15 men and 5 women) from selected AJA medical centers in Tehran, with an average age of 42 years and an average work experience of 14 years. The identified obstacles to the development of AI in these medical centers were categorized into three main groups: Extra-organizational and organizational factors, individual factors, and educational factors. These categories included 10 subcategories: Sanctions and economic issues, organizational attitudes, rules and regulations, available facilities, quality of facilities, knowledge and attitude, individual resistance to change, education quality, educational curriculum, and clinical professors. Conclusions: Iran's unique conditions pose challenges to the development and implementation of AI in its medical centers. This study highlights the need to address these obstacles by revising organizational rules and regulations and educating stakeholders on the benefits of AI. These measures could promote the use of AI in military medical centers and improve the quality of care.