A new survey has found that 58% of doctors reported using artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice within the last year, with more than one in five using it daily.
The research, which was conducted by EY and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), found that one in three doctors reported encountering patients presenting with AI-generated information in the previous month, while 16% attended based on AI advice.
The study is based on a survey of 516 physicians based in Ireland across a broad range of specialties and career stages.
It found that doctors are applying Generative AI across a range of clinical and administrative tasks including suggesting differential diagnoses, identifying treatment options, generating post-consultation documentation, and summarising patient histories.
The use of AI in clinical practice varied by age group with the 50-64 year old age group the most likely to report usage, ahead of 35-49 years, 20-34 and 65 years or older.
Seven in 10 doctors said they are optimistic about AI in healthcare, but two-thirds fear increased data breaches and 59% fear over-dependence on AI.
The research found that 93% of respondents agreed that they will need more support and training in AI.
"While doctors are embracing this technology, they are keenly aware of the need for guardrails and to keep a focus on patient safety, with a clear ask coming from doctors for more training and support to adapt these tools," said Dr Ronan Glynn, EY Ireland Partner and Health Sector Leader.
"This joint RCPI-EY research highlights how AI has already moved beyond experimentation and into everyday clinical practice in Ireland - on both the doctor and patient side," Dr Glynn said.
Dr Diarmuid O'Shea, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, said that used well, AI has the potential to strengthen patient care, clinical judgement and trust.
"This will be increasingly important as our patients engage more with AI and require our support in navigating and understanding the vast amount of general information available to them," Dr O'Shea said.
"While AI has the capacity to empower patients to be informed participants in their care programme, it can never replace the importance of compassion, empathy and physical assessment in medicine," he added.
