Physicians worldwide have generally positive attitudes towards the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

That’s according to a new survey of nearly 500 pathologists practicing in 54 countries, which indicated physicians believe AI-based diagnostic platforms could be used to improve the predictive and prognostic power of traditional pathology approaches.

In response to the survey, which was published in Nature, nearly three-quarters of physicians reported interest or excitement in AI as a diagnostic tool to facilitate improvements in workflow efficiency and quality assurance in pathology.

Over half of respondents felt that with appropriate training, AI tools could increase or even dramatically increase diagnostic efficiency, while more than a fifth of respondents believed AI tools would be relatively intuitive with little need for training.

On that note, the report suggested early efforts to implement educational presentations and formalized workshops could help to ease anxiety, increase awareness, and hopefully permit valuable pathologist-input into design and integration approaches.

When it comes to how best to get providers to adopt AI tools, the survey findings suggest platform developers should focus on demonstrating efficacy and safety of their technology, with little need to persuade pathologists that AI is a useful tool for their practices.

That said, a significant number of respondents endorsed concerns about AI, including the potential for job displacement and replacement, while around 80 percent of respondents predicted the introduction of AI technology in the pathology laboratory within the coming decade. The survey also indicated there is a need for increasing efforts towards physician training, as well as resolving medical-legal implications prior to the generalized implementation of AI in pathology.

Looking forward, the survey’s authors note that there are a number of important questions which should be considered by future investigators performing surveys of a similar nature. For example, “understanding the perspectives of pathologists on how reimbursement schemas should adapt to the implementation of AI-based tools is of considerable importance to all stakeholders in the field.”

Moreover, they said, designing questions to achieve insight into which individuals or demographic groups would be most likely to be early adaptors of these tools could focus attention on these groups, and ensure that ‘early experiences’ are captured and evaluated for broader benefit of the community. 

More specifically, surveying pathologists “on how AI-tools could be integrated into their personal clinical practice would highlight areas of focus for developers and hospitals.”