Abstract

The rapid development of artificial intelligence systems has shown promising applications in various fields, including medicine. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of medical professionals on the application of artificial intelligence in their respective careers and its advantages and disadvantages when compared to human doctors and clinicians. Likewise, this study utilized a purposive sampling technique to select eight (8) Filipino medical professionals from various settings within and beyond the Philippines. The participants were interviewed to collect data, which would then be transcribed after all the interviews were conducted. The transcribed data was then gathered and analyzed to find similarities between each participant’s answers. Researchers then used the thematic analysis method, utilizing Marilyn Lichtman’s 3 C’s (Codes, Categories, Concepts), gathering their relevant data and interpreting recurring patterns or themes to discover and understand the meaning of the participants’ responses. These patterns enabled the researchers to clearly and concisely recognize the findings of the answers to the study’s main research questions. The data shows that medical professionals believe that (1) AI has significantly transformed how medicine is practiced today, especially as a supportive tool; (2) medical professionals continue to remain cautious, posing numerous ethical and reliability concerns about AI; (3) while AI has changed the field of medicine, it will never replace the judgement and empathy of human physicians; (4) a competent clinical eye and adequate education are necessary strategies for the responsible use of AI in medicine; and (5) AI, when used responsibly and properly, can be an effective partner for doctors. Among the data gathered, similarities can be found among the different participants, although each participant's view is distinct. Each theme was then evaluated and discussed thoroughly to give clear insights into the recommendations and conclusions of the study.

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