The artificial doctor

: consumer perception on AI-driven preliminary medical diagnosis in critical and non-critical contexts

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool capable of transforming industries. The healthcare industry hopes to leverage this technology to reduce costs, improve patient care, medical diagnosis and treatment recommendations, administrative work, and so forth. While there is optimism, skepticism about this technology still causes consumers to resist adopting it, which in turn can prevent the industry from harnessing its benefits. For a concept so critical for the successful implementation of a technology, very little is known about consumer acceptance, perceptions and intentions. This research aims to understand consumer intention to accept AI-driven medical diagnosis, and how context can influence intention, employing questionnaires to apply the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in different medical contexts. This study concluded that while consumers lean towards a positive intention to accept AI-driven diagnosis, they do not demonstrate a particularly positive or negative perception of the matter yet. Behavioral intention is primarily shaped by three main factors: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence, and it can also vary in different medical contexts. As such, this research provides valuable insights into the current consumer perceptions and their possible impact on AI adoption.

Date of Award	24 Jun 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Peter V. Rajsingh (Supervisor)