Healthcare Professionals' Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare-A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies.

AIM: To identify the experiences and perceptions of healthcare professionals on artificial intelligence in healthcare. DESIGN: Systematic literature review of qualitative studies and meta-aggregation. DATA SOURCES: CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Medic and ProQuest were systematically searched on December 9, 2024. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies were included in the review, of which 25 were analysed using meta-aggregation, and the results of one study were reported narratively. A total of 185 findings were identified from the included studies that addressed the research question. These findings were aggregated into 33 categories and then into five synthesised findings as follows: (1) Perceived benefits of AI in healthcare; (2) Perceived impact of AI on professional roles and workforce dynamics; (3) Perceived impacts of AI in communication and interaction; (4) Perceived challenges of AI related to technical, financial and systemic factors; (5) Perceived ethical, cultural and regulatory considerations regarding the use of AI. CONCLUSION: While AI holds significant potential to enhance efficiency and improve patient outcomes, it is essential to address the concerns raised by healthcare professionals regarding workforce dynamics, communication and ethical considerations. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: The results can inform and support the implementation of AI in healthcare and the development of AI-related education and training to meet the demands of future healthcare work. REPORTING METHOD: The review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: None. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD1073200).