Artificial intelligence in healthcare : A comprehensive survey of healthcare professionals in India

Objective: Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely recognized as a transformative force that is expected to significantly influence patient care in the near future.This study aims to evaluate the level of awareness regarding AI technologies among healthcare professionals in India, as well as to explore their perceptions of AI’s potential applications in medical practice. Design: An online survey using Google Forms was administered to healthcare professionals employed at prominent hospitals in Delhi, India. Setting: Invitations to complete the online questionnaire were sent via email exclusively to staff employed at major hospitals with a capacity of over 500 beds. Participants: A total of 264 healthcare professionals participated in the survey, comprising 80 medical doctors, 54 nurses, 46 pharmacists, 34 physiotherapists, and 50 individuals from other healthcare professions. Primary outcome: The study aims to explore healthcare professionals’ prior knowledge of AI, along with their attitudes and concerns regarding its present and future applications. Results: In the ‘knowledgebase’ section of the survey, 56 respondents (42%) indicated that they had not experienced any use of AI applications in their professional practice. Furthermore, it was shown that 75% of the participants lacked awareness regarding the distinctions between machine learning and deep learning, despite the fact that 83% demonstrated familiarity with at least one of these terminologies. Furthermore, a mere 9% of respondents indicated that they employ speech recognition or transcription software in their professional settings on a daily basis, while a significant 37% claimed never utilising such tools. A significant proportion of healthcare professionals polled (117, 89%) voiced apprehensions over significant privacy risks associated with AI, with 43% suggesting that AI may pose a greater threat than nuclear weapons. However, a significant proportion of participants (84, 63%) regarded AI as beneficial or highly beneficial in their respective fields, although 32% voiced apprehensions regarding the possibility of AI supplanting their positions in the professional environment. Conclusion: Although there is consensus regarding the utility of AI in the medical domain, a significant number of healthcare practitioners possess an incomplete comprehension of the fundamental principles of AI and express concerns regarding the potential ramifications of its extensive implementation in clinical settings. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the awareness and perception of healthcare professionals in India regarding the integration of AI in the healthcare industry. The importance of this study resides in its capacity to provide crucial observations that can provide valuable guidance to policymakers, healthcare organisations, and AI developers regarding the dominant attitudes and viewpoints across the healthcare workforce in India.