Everyday AI Use and Career Anxiety Among Hospital Staff: An Exploratory Qualitative Study in a Chinese Tertiary Hospital

This qualitative study examines how hospital staff experience career anxiety while using AI tools in daily work. Based on interviews with 20 physicians, nurses, medical technicians, and administrative staff in a tertiary public hospital, the study finds that AI did not create career anxiety on its own. Rather, it became linked to existing pressures, including workload, patient safety responsibility, performance assessment, career competition, unclear expectations, and limited support. Participants mainly used general-purpose AI tools for drafting, summarizing, information searching, teaching preparation, and research support. These uses reduced some repetitive work while raised concerns about skill gaps, privacy, unreliable outputs, accountability, and possible task replacement. Anxiety varied across roles. Administrative and technical staff were more concerned about automation of standardized tasks, while clinicians emphasized clinical judgment, communication, bedside care, and human responsibility. The findings suggest that hospitals need secure AI platforms, role-specific training, clear accountability rules, privacy protection, and workload-focused support.