Table 1

Study characteristics

StudyCountryMethodologyParticipants (n)AI’s application settingPhenomenon of interestMain results
Haan et al 64 The NetherlandsGrounded theoryPatients scheduled for a CT scan of the chest and abdomen on an outpatient basis (20)In radiology outpatientPatients’ view on what
they need to know
about the use of AI in radiology.		Six themes:

  1. Proof of technology about efficacy and reliability of AI;

  2. Procedural knowledge about understanding how AI will be implemented in the current radiological practice;

  3. The capability of AI to produce reliable results;

  4. Efficiency related to the scanning process;

  5. Personal interaction between patients and doctors;

  6. The responsibility of humans when computers make mistakes.

Thenral and Annamalai38 IndiaGrounded theoryPatients of psychiatrists who had used web-based/phone-based telemedicine services for consulting patients (14)In psychological consultation of clinical practiceThe perceive challenges of building, developing and using AI-enabled telepsychiatry for clinical practice from the perspectives of patients.Four themes:

  1. Ethical, legal, accountability and regulatory problems of AI;

  2. Financial issues;

  3. Technology problems of AI;

  4. Clinical-practice problems of AI.

Bian et al 34 CanadaDescriptive qualitative studyAdults be aged at least 65 years and older
(15)		Assessing frailty in home settingsOlder adults’ perceptions and preferences of technologies that can potentially assess frailty at home.Four themes:

  1. General attitude towards using the technologies;

  2. Conditions for accepting certain technologies;

  3. Existing living habits or patterns related to using the technologies;

  4. Constructive suggestions related to the technologies.

Zhang et al 36 USADescriptive qualitative studyPatients who have recent experience with using patient portals to review their diagnostic results (13)Interpreting imaging data and radiology reportsPatients’ perceptions and acceptance of using AI technology to interpret their radiology reports.Three themes:

  1. General perceptions of using AI tools to interpret diagnostic results;

  2. Concerns;

  3. Increasing acceptability and trustworthy of AI-based systems in communicating radiology report findings.

Sangers et al 37 The NetherlandsGrounded theoryGeneral public (27)In skin cancer screeningThe perceived barriers and facilitators towards mHealth apps for skin cancer screening among
the Dutch general population.		Two themes:

  1. Barriers to using mHealth skin cancer screening apps;

  2. Facilitators of mHealth use.

McCradden et al 26 CanadaDescriptive qualitative studyGeneral public who had signed up to participate in research studies (41)In health data researchThe perspectives of the general public regarding the use of health data in AI research.Five themes:

  1. Mixed, mostly negative views about AI in general;

  2. Hopes and perceived benefits of health AI research scenarios;

  3. Fears and perceived drawbacks of health AI research scenarios;

  4. Conditions under which health AI research scenarios are more acceptable;

  5. Educational effect of realistic health AI research scenarios.

McCradden et al 23 CanadaDescriptive qualitative studyPatients with meningioma and their caregivers (18)In healthcare researchCurrent perspectives of patients on ethical issues
surrounding AI in healthcare.		Four themes:

  1. Protection of health data;

  2. Scepticism regarding accountability mechanisms;

  3. Computer-based predictions;

  4. Trust and confidentiality.

Vandemeulebroucke et al 39 BelgiumGrounded theoryAdults be aged at least 70 years and older
(59)		In aged careCommunity-dwelling older adults perceive as ethical issues of SARs in aged care.Three themes:

  1. SARs as components of a techno-societal evolution;

  2. SARs’ embeddedness in aged-care dynamics;

  3. SARs as embodiments of ethical considerations.

Nelson et al 35 USAGrounded theoryPatients with skin cancer (48)In skin cancer screeningHow patients perceive the use of AI for skin cancer screening.Five themes:

  1. AI’s benefits;

  2. AI’s risks;

  3. AI’s strengths;

  4. AI’s weaknesses;

  5. AI’s implementation.

Richardson et al 32 USADescriptive qualitative studyPatients (87）In healthcareHow patients view the use of AI in their healthcare.Six themes:

  1. Participants were excited about healthcare AI but wanted assurances about safety;

  2. Patients expect their clinicians to ensure AI safety;

  3. Preservation of patient choice and autonomy;

  4. Concerns about healthcare costs and insurance coverage;

  5. Ensuring data integrity;

  6. Risks of technology-dependent systems.

Ding et al 40 ChinaPhenomenologyPatients undergoing Da
Vinci robotic surgery (12）		In surgeryPerioperative psychological experience of patients undergoing Da Vinci robotic surgery.Four themes:

  1. Patients have a gradual psychological acceptance process for robotic surgery;

  2. Most patients need knowledge about robotic surgery and postoperative rehabilitation guidance;

  3. Most patients are confident about robotic surgery;

  4. Most patients are worried about the cost of robotic surgery.

Müller et al 33 GermanyDescriptive qualitative studyPatients visiting the department of oral diagnostics (5）In dental diagnosticsHow all these different factors may act as barriers
or enablers to implement AI in care.		Three themes:

  1. Enablers for patients;

  2. Conflicting themes for patients;

  3. Barriers for patients.

  • AI, artificial intelligence; mHealth, mobile health; SAR, socially assistive robot.