Challenges to implementing artificial intelligence in healthcare: a qualitative interview study with healthcare leaders in Sweden

Abstract

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare presents potential solutions to some of the challenges faced by health systems around the world. However, it is well established in implementation and innovation research that novel technologies are often resisted by healthcare leaders, which contributes to their slow and variable uptake. Although research on various stakeholders’ perspectives on AI implementation has been undertaken, very few studies have investigated leaders’ perspectives on the issue of AI implementation in healthcare. It is essential to understand the perspectives of healthcare leaders, because they have a key role in the implementation process of new technologies in healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore challenges perceived by leaders in a regional Swedish healthcare setting concerning the implementation of AI in healthcare. Methods The study takes an explorative qualitative approach. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted from October 2020 to May 2021 with 26 healthcare leaders. The analysis was performed using qualitative content analysis, with an inductive approach. Results The analysis yielded three categories, representing three types of challenge perceived to be linked with the implementation of AI in healthcare: 1) Conditions external to the healthcare system; 2) Capacity for strategic change management; 3) Transformation of healthcare professions and healthcare practice. Conclusions In conclusion, healthcare leaders highlighted several implementation challenges in relation to AI within and beyond the healthcare system in general and their organisations in particular. The challenges comprised conditions external to the healthcare system, internal capacity for strategic change management, along with transformation of healthcare professions and healthcare practice. The results point to the need to develop implementation strategies across healthcare organisations to address challenges to AI-specific capacity building. Laws and policies are needed to regulate the design and execution of effective AI implementation strategies. There is a need to invest time and resources in implementation processes, with collaboration across healthcare, county councils, and industry partnerships.

Barriers to the Incorporation of Digital Health Competencies in the Medical School Curriculum: A Qualitative Study of Doctors in Organizational Leadership

“…For example, the lack of policy guidelines is also a challenge faced by the Swedish healthcare system. In a study that explores the views of 26 healthcare leaders including managers and quality developers in the county council healthcare organization, the incongruence between the pace of technological development and the implementation of laws and policies is perceived to be a challenge in the implementation of AI in the local healthcare system (Petersson et al, 2021). Additionally, the need to provide students with relevant opportunities in preparation for careers in healthcare digitalization, and the bene ts of a strong and integrated technological infrastructure, have also been recognised in the U.S and Australia (Banerjee et al, 2015;Hourani et al, 2021).…”

“…Notwithstanding this signi cant role, their perspectives have been less studied. Current studies are limited to exploring their views on the challenges of implementing digital technologies in healthcare (Petersson et al, 2021), the features of a successful learning health system (Enticott et al, 2020), and the key attributes and behaviors needed by healthcare leaders to ensure successful adoption of health technology (Alanazi, 2022). While insightful, there have been few discussions on how digital developments within the healthcare system and the training of medical students in DHC can be more aligned, which will be addressed by this study.…”

Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the Ugandan Health Sector: a review of Literature

“…Some authors described the existing ethical guidelines and policies for implementing healthcare and medical AI-powered systems as a challenge and an issue that requires much attention to address [30,45,50]. Globally, the available laws and policies have been out-paced by rapid technological advancements, and there is a need to revise them to ensure liability [56]. There is a need for the government of Uganda to establish laws and policies for the safety and regulatory oversight of AI.…”

Irrationality of Digital Medicine: VR, IoT and AI in Practice

“…For instance, explainability/interpretability, ethical and privacy challenges are seen in AI, thus further work to improve the interpretability will be essential for the adoption and safety [33,34].…”