Patient Perceptions on Data Sharing and Applying Artificial Intelligence to Health Care Data: Cross-sectional Survey (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Considerable research is being conducted as to how artificial intelligence (AI) can be effectively applied to health care. However, for the successful implementation of AI, large amounts of health data are required for training and testing algorithms. As such, there is a need to understand the perspectives and viewpoints of patients regarding the use of their health data in AI research. OBJECTIVE We surveyed a large sample of patients for identifying current awareness regarding health data research, and for obtaining their opinions and views on data sharing for AI research purposes, and on the use of AI technology on health care data. METHODS A cross-sectional survey with patients was conducted at a large multisite teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Data were collected on patient and public views about sharing health data for research and the use of AI on health data. RESULTS A total of 408 participants completed the survey. The respondents had generally low levels of prior knowledge about AI. Most were comfortable with sharing health data with the National Health Service (NHS) (318/408, 77.9%) or universities (268/408, 65.7%), but far fewer with commercial organizations such as technology companies (108/408, 26.4%). The majority endorsed AI research on health care data (357/408, 87.4%) and health care imaging (353/408, 86.4%) in a university setting, provided that concerns about privacy, reidentification of anonymized health care data, and consent processes were addressed. CONCLUSIONS There were significant variations in the patient perceptions, levels of support, and understanding of health data research and AI. Greater public engagement levels and debates are necessary to ensure the acceptability of AI research and its successful integration into clinical practice in future.

Attitudes and perception of artificial intelligence in healthcare: A cross-sectional survey among patients

“…The big majority only knew 'somehow' what it meant or even less, which was in a similar range already shown for the German as well as other populations. 21,62 Much more explicitly, our data point out that an application of AI at the bedside is only acceptable for the vast majority of patients if they can be sure that the AI is under continuous control and more specifically, they expect this control to be taken over by a physician. Several respondents strengthened this point in their free text notes explicitly.…”

“…The big majority only knew ‘somehow’ what it meant or even less, which was in a similar range already shown for the German as well as other populations. 21,62…”

“…Aggarwal and colleagues examined perceptions of 408 participants from London regarding AI along with questions about data collection and data sharing for the purpose of medical AI research. 21 They found that while patients generally have little prior knowledge about AI, the majority perceives its usage as positive, trusts its use and believes that the benefits outweigh the risks. A common finding in many studies is that patients want physician supervision of AI and prefer a physician in a direct comparison.…”

Current challenges of implementing artificial intelligence in medical imaging

“…The Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust was accused of breaching the UK Data Protection Act 1998 when it provided the data of 1.6 million patients to Google for its DeepMind project without consent [11]. A study conducted in the UK showed that the public is more comfortable sharing their health data with the government sector and university but reserved to share their data with commercial companies [12]. However, if the data is made anonymously, participants are more willing to share their data [13].…”

Informing a position statement on the use of artificial intelligence in dermatology in Australia

“…There is significant variation in patient perception and knowledge of health data and AI, but generally patients were strongly in favour of developing AI that offer improvements in diagnosis and treatment. 35 Patients did have significant concerns about sharing their data when it may ultimately be sold to external organisations to use for profit. 36 Consent, deidentification, and data governance Dermatologists should obtain informed consent from their patients to use their data for ML purposes.…”