Bridging the gap : how human factors can support the development of AI technology in healthcare

Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has the potential to support healthcare, however, often due to a a limited understanding of the work system the technologies performance reduces once integrated. The discipline of human factors can be applied from the outset of development to support a better understanding of the work system. Methods: A scoping review was completed to gain an understanding of how human factors approaches had been previously applied to AI-based clinical decision support technology. Semi-structured interviews, based on an extended Work System Model were conducted with Scottish adult critical care clinicians to assess their need for an AI-based sepsis fluid management (AI-SFM) tool. A review of the resources developed to measure organisational readiness for AI technology in any sector was conducted. The factors within these resources were analysed using the extended Work System Model. Results: Sixty-four studies in the review applied a human factors approach at the three stages of the AI technologies lifecycle: Design, Implementation and Use. The studies highlighted approaches that should be applied from the outset of AI technology development, including assessing user needs which was then applied to an AI-SFM tool in Stage 2. Twenty clinicians in Scottish adult critical care were interviewed. Clinicians felt the tool would be useful but highlighted barriers within the work system, including a lack of organisational readiness. To further understand organisational readiness, a review of resources highlighted 17 studies that had applied ten resources, the most common being the Technology-Organisation Environment (TOE) model. The majority of the factors were found under the organisation component of the extended Work System Model. Conclusions: The application of human factors has the potential to support the development of AI technology for the healthcare setting, and a systems perspective should be considered from the outset. Future work should continue to apply these approaches, and resources should be created to help this process.
Date of Award12 Aug 2024
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • University Of Strathclyde
SponsorsUniversity of Strathclyde
SupervisorMarion Bennie (Supervisor) & Feng Dong (Supervisor)

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