Psychiatrists’ Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence: Tasks, Job Security and Benefits Abstract Background: Researchers have predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will affect job security for physicians in the future, including in the mental health industry. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess local psychiatrists’ opinions regarding the future impact of AI/ML on their daily 10 key practice tasks in addition to determine the benefits and drawbacks of AI/ML. Methods: The design was cross-sectional and included psychiatrists (n = 62) registered in Bahrain, who participated via a Google survey. Results: Out of 52 eligible participants, there were 43 survey respondents (81.3%). Only 9.3% of (Preprint)
Year: 2022
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND Researchers have predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will affect job security for physicians in the future, including in the mental health industry. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess local psychiatrists’ opinions regarding the future impact of AI/ML on their daily 10 key practice tasks in addition to determine the benefits and drawbacks of AI/ML. METHODS The design was cross-sectional and included psychiatrists (n = 62) registered in Bahrain, who participated via a Google survey. RESULTS Out of 52 eligible participants, there were 43 survey respondents (81.3%). Only 9.3% of respondents felt it was likely that AI/ML will replace average physicians in providing empathetic care. Physicians speculated that AI/ML is likely to replace average physicians in tasks such as establishing prognosis (67%), synthesizing information to reach diagnosis (72.1%) and obtaining medical/psychiatric histories (51.2%); however, they were uncertain regarding other tasks, such as performing medical and mental status examinations (74.4%) and providing empathetic care (81.4%). The main benefits of AI/ML were perceived to be facilitating a quicker diagnosis (69.8%) and replacing the physician role (76.7%). The study findings were not related to age group, gender, seniority or level of AI/ML knowledge. CONCLUSIONS This is the first local study to evaluate the attitudes of psychiatrists toward the effects of AI/ML on the future of psychiatry. Our findings provide useful data on the impact of AI/ML on job security as well as its benefits. Most participants were worried about the possibility of machines replacing human skills and practices and acknowledged both the advantages and challenges.
Author: Mohammed Al-Medfa
Language: English
Subfield: Health Informatics
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4293100718