A new international study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Asian medical professionals’ perceptions of the use of AI in healthcare.
Investigation result
The researchers surveyed 165 gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal surgeons in Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. They were given a questionnaire to assess their level of agreement with questions aimed at measuring trust, acceptance and risk perception towards the use of AI in gastroenterology. The questionnaire presented three different scenarios in which AI could be utilized: Applied – Detection, characterization, and intervention.
based on Investigation result In a survey published in the scientific journal JMIR (Journal of Medical Internet Research) AI, about 80% of respondents said they would accept and trust the use of AI in diagnosing and evaluating colorectal polyps, about 70% said they would accept and trust AI-assisted tools in removing polyps, and about 80% said they would accept and trust AI in characterizing polyps.
The researchers found no differences in the level of AI acceptance between public and private institutions, or between large hospitals and small practice groups, but noted that years of experience may be an indicator of trust in AI: The survey found that gastroenterologists with less than 10 years of clinical experience perceived there to be more risks in using AI-powered tools than more experienced physicians.
“The wealth of clinical experience in treating colorectal polyps among senior gastroenterologists may have given these clinicians confidence in their own medical expertise and practice, which in turn may have increased their confidence in making clinical decisions when new technologies were introduced,” explained Joseph Song, professor at NTU and one of the study’s co-authors.
Prof Song also believes that junior gastroenterologists are less confident about using AI for invasive procedures such as polyp removal, and are therefore more likely to perceive it as dangerous.
Larger trends
Associate Professor Wilson Goh from NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, who led the study, said they focused on gastroenterology specialists who make heavy use of imaging and surgical or endoscopic interventions.
This is evident in the growing use of AI-powered decision support tools, software, and systems for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases across Asia.
Japanese companies are AI Medical Services (AIM) NECAIM is known for developing endoscopic diagnostic AI. AIM is currently working with the Stanford University School of Medicine to validate its product. Chinese startups Wision AI also offers CE-marked, AI-powered polyp detection software called EndoScreener.
Meanwhile, in Asian universities and hospitals, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, National University Hospital A Singaporean company has built an AI-driven endoscopy system that helps detect, diagnose, and remove cancerous gastrointestinal lesions.
