AI triage or manual triage? Exploring medical staffs' preference for AI triage in China.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The introduction of AI technology in healthcare presents both opportunities and challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate medical staffs' preference for AI triage and the influencing factors. METHODS: A survey was conducted online among medical staffs in China from March 4th to April 28th, 2021. Participants were recruited through multiple channels, including medical professional platforms and social media. A total of 677 valid responses were obtained from medical staff members located in 28 provinces across China. RESULTS: The results showed that AI triage had an overall acceptance rate of 77.1%, and 45.2% of the medical staffs surveyed preferred "AI triage exclusively." Direct experience was positively associated with medical staffs' preference for AI triage (ß = 0.223, p < .001). Additionally, greater exposure to a variety of media was positively associated with the perceived value of AI technology, which, in turn, increased preference for AI triage (ß = 0.040, SE = 0.013, p < .001, 95% CI = [0.017, 0.067]). CONCLUSION: Medical staffs generally hold a favorable attitude towards AI triage, particularly in areas with a high medical burden and during pandemics. In a multimedia environment, media exposure variety impacts medical staffs' preferences through their perceived value of AI technology. This study has implications for the implementation of AI triage on a larger scale.