Exploring AI scribes in Norwegian general practice: a qualitative individual interview study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore how Artificial intelligence (AI) scribes influence Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs) clinical practice, focusing on their impact on workflow, consultation routines, and professional responsibility, and to explore GPs reflections on AI technology and its alignment with their needs, expectations and ethical considerations in primary care. DESIGN: Qualitative individual interview study using systematic text condensation (STC). SETTING: General practice in Norway. SUBJECTS: Ten GPs with more than 3 months' regular use of an AI scribe. Participants were self-selected early adopters. RESULTS: The GPs in our study reported that using AI scribe markedly saved time, while reducing stress levels. The technology improved consultation structure and patient focus, though some GPs missed their personal writing style and found the language overly standardised. The tool sometime struggled capturing nuances during complex discussions. Occasional transcription errors, and hallucinations highlighted the need for careful review. GPs expressed concern regarding data privacy and regulatory uncertainty but maintained a stance of critical trust. Overall, the AI scribe was seen as a major innovation that enhances efficiency and patient care, provided its outputs remain under vigilant control. CONCLUSION: According to the respondents, AI scribes influence GPs daily routines and professional identity by enhancing documentation efficiency, reducing workload and enabling GPs to focus more on patient care. However, they may introduce new areas for error and subtle shifts in clinical practice, such as reliance on AI-generated text. Responsible integration requires collaborations on guidelines, training and further research to balance efficiency gains with patient centred care and address long-term impacts.