Healthcare professionals and integration of AI

This study aimed to identify the key factors influencing healthcare professionals' (HCPs) intention to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their practice. A cross-sectional survey was administered to HCPs across 10 professional associations in Québec, Canada. A total of 712 HCPs responded to our survey (response rate = 12%). Of these, 484 fully answered the survey questionnaire, comprising 430 (89%) AI non-users and 54 (11%) AI users. A research model was developed based on a combination of widely recognized behavioral theories commonly used in the digital health domain. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The analysis revealed that HCPs' beliefs about the role of AI in their job and profession positively influence their intention to integrate AI into their practice (β = 0.29, p < 0.05). Trust in AI also significantly predicted HCPs’ intentions (β = 0.29, p < 0.01). Digital literacy, particularly familiarity with AI, was found to be another key predictor, influencing both beliefs about AI (β = 0.24, p < 0.001) and trust in AI (β = 0.29, p < 0.001). However, attitudes towards AI's impactfulness and anxiety about AI did not significantly affect HCPs' intention to integrate AI. The study highlights the importance of enhancing digital literacy and building positive beliefs and trust in AI among HCPs to facilitate AI integration. Educational programs and initiatives aimed at increasing familiarity with AI technologies may promote more favorable perceptions and greater trust, thereby encouraging AI adoption in healthcare. Future research should explore these factors in different countries and among various healthcare professions to provide a more comprehensive understanding of AI adoption in healthcare.

Methods
To achieve our research objective, we solicited the participation of 10 professional associations in Québec, Canada, representing various healthcare professionals, including nurses, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and others. Each association agreed to distribute the invitation letter to either all or a subgroup of their members, ensuring a broad and representative sample. The survey invitations were sent out between mid-October 2023 and early February 2024. Each professional association sent a reminder letter to its members to encourage participation three weeks after the initial invitation. There was no incentive for HCPs to fill out the online questionnaire and there were no negative consequences if they did not participate. The data were first analyzed through descriptive statistics, using the IBM SPSS software (v28). Component-based partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was then used to test the research model (cf. Figure 1), as implemented in the SEMinR package (v2.3.2).