In 2024, Medscape interviewed health professionals In France but also in Europe and in several American countries, on the prospects for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice.
In all countries studied, doctors were enthusiastic about the advent of this technology, seeing its value in tasks such as managing administrative information in the doctor’s office, managing health data, updating records medical, writing text for research, etc. AI is seen as a tool that complements clinical practice and maximizes the capabilities of doctors.
However, some practitioners, particularly those aged over 45, have expressed concern about the transformations that this revolution could inflict on their specialty and the possible interference in the doctor-patient relationship. They also fear that patients will receive incorrect information using this technology.
All the doctors interviewed agree that AI will probably not be able to replace human intelligence and emotions, and even less the humanistic approach. This is why the role of the doctor remains, according to them, irreplaceable. Many highlighted the importance of being aware of the risks associated with misuse of this technology and the potential harm it can cause.
In the Americas
Medscape surveyed nearly 3,860 doctors practicing on the American continent — in Canada (718), Mexico (1,056), Brazil (1,279) and Argentina (805).
72% of Canadian doctors in particular consider it “very important” to learn about the use of AI in medicine, and 55% believe that its appropriate use can help reduce the risk of medical errors, which which makes it an important ally in clinical practice.
Among Latin American doctors, 59% felt that it was very important for professionals to continue to learn about the use of AI in medicine, with the level of knowledge varying somewhat depending on the country (only 8% of doctors reported having a good command of AI in Brazil, compared to 10-11% in Canada, Mexico or Argentina).
In this survey, on average, only 10% of doctors currently use artificial intelligence in their daily practice. The main uses are researching pathologies and managing administrative tasks, followed by making appointments with patients and updating electronic medical records. About 70% of physicians who are not yet using AI say they intend to integrate it into their clinical practice in the future. Most of them believe that AI can help reduce the risk of malpractice or medical errors.
In a similar survey conducted by Medscape in 2023 in the United States, only 40% of the 1,023 American doctors surveyed said they were “enthusiastic” about AI for their practice. But just like their international colleagues, they felt that training on this new technology was very important for them (80%).
A Europe
Medscape also surveyed 5,355 doctors in Europe: 1,077 in France, 1,003 in Spain, 1,010 in Germany, 387 in Portugal, 1,133 in Italy, and 745 in the United Kingdom. European doctors consider radiology to be the specialty most impacted by AI in medicine. Other specialties, such as pathology, preventive medicine, oncology and general medicine, have also been identified as areas that can significantly benefit from the use of AI.
Furthermore, more than 80% of European doctors agreed that the use of AI in medicine should be supervised and controlled by government authorities, in particular by health system managers, through a specific legal framework . Such a framework is already proposed in Europe with the Artificial Intelligence Act which seeks to respond to risks and put in place a leadership world in this field.
Another important point addressed in the survey in European countries is that more than 70% of the practitioners questioned believe that there is a significant risk that AI becomes a frequent ‘source’ of consultation for patients, which could lead to the dissemination of false information, thereby increasing the risk of misunderstandings and problems in the doctor-patient relationship.
In conclusion, if doctors call for vigilance – not to over-evaluate the tool thinking that AI will be a definitive solution – the main message lies above all in the need to train and educate caregivers, and to clearly delimit the real usefulness of AI, in order to avoid false hopes and minimize the associated risks.
