Healthcare professionals worldwide are finding artificial intelligence helpful in their daily work, but a new study reveals that most say they’re not getting adequate training on these emerging technologies.
The research, conducted as part of the Future Health Index study, surveyed over 2,000 healthcare workers and more than 20,000 patients in 10 countries to examine how AI is being used in medical settings.
Medical professionals are turning to artificial intelligence for various tasks, including using it as a conversational partner for work-related discussions, converting voice recordings into written clinical notes, and managing patient appointment schedules.
On the medical treatment side, the technology can alert providers about potentially harmful medication interactions, recommend possible diagnoses when presented with patient symptoms, and assist in reviewing medical imaging like X-rays and scans.
The time-saving benefits are substantial, according to the findings. Nearly half of all surveyed healthcare workers reported saving at least 132 hours each year on average, while 50% indicated that AI has expanded their ability to treat more patients.
Medical professionals, including nurses and physicians, reported that artificial intelligence helps them work with greater accuracy and attention to detail, stay current with medical research and developments, and analyze patient cases more thoroughly.
However, the study uncovered a significant gap between individual adoption and institutional support. About 64% of healthcare workers said they resort to using personal AI applications when their workplace tools don’t meet their requirements.
“The organizations aren’t moving fast enough to provide the tools and the training,” said the Chief Innovation Officer at the company that conducted the research, speaking to Reuters.
A striking 70% of healthcare professionals indicated that their workplaces either don’t offer AI training or provide instruction that is limited or inconsistent.
The study’s authors emphasized that “expanding structured, role-specific training will help clinicians develop the digital skills and clinical judgment needed to work effectively with AI.”
Despite embracing the technology, healthcare workers remain cautious about AI’s role. Nearly all participants – 90% – stressed the importance of maintaining human involvement as artificial intelligence continues to advance, while 86% believe that all AI-generated results need human review and oversight.
