Artificial intelligence in healthcare: A qualitative study on physicians

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made a significant impact on the healthcare sector, and it is expected that more and more physicians will turn to this technology to support their clinical decisions. This research aims to investigate the attitudes and determinants of physicians towards using AI applications. Between November 2022 and December 2022, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 17 physicians working in a private hospital in Istanbul, adopting a qualitative approach aimed at providing detailed summaries of 'personal life experiences'. 76.5% (13/17) of the physicians had experience with AI-enabled systems. From the participants' responses, 5 categorical concepts and 429 open codes were identified that determined physicians' attitudes towards using AI-enabled systems. The most frequently repeated codes were 'Usage Advantages' (n: 156), 'Expectations' (n: 75), 'Other Effects' (n: 69), 'Concerns' (n: 65), and 'Minimum Requirements for AI-enabled Systems' (n: 64). Nine participants stated that the perception of technology in their institutions was high. It was concluded that positive perceptions formed at the institutional level encouraged physicians to prioritize new technologies more openly and eagerly. Additionally, it was determined that the field, country conditions, and resources were decisive factors for attitudes towards these systems.