Abstract
Purpose :
Artificial Intelligence (AI) could alleviate gaps in eye care access in the pediatric population, but caregiver engagement is critical in its implementation. This study investigated caregiver openness and concern towards AI in pediatric ophthalmologic care.
Methods :
A prospective study was conducted at a single pediatric tertiary care center from November 2023 to December 2023. The study consisted of an electronic QR survey code distributed in-person to parents at the pediatric ophthalmology clinic. The survey consisted of caregiver demographics, a 9-item measure of openness, and a 25-item measure of concern regarding AI. Likert scale answers were translated to numerical values (1–not important, 5–extremely important) to calculate mean scores of parental openness and concern. Each of the 25 items that measured concern were categorized (quality/accuracy, privacy, shared decision making, convenience, cost, human element of care, or social justice), and mean scores calculated for each category. Multivariable linear regression was performed to explore associations between caregiver concerns and openness to AI.
Results :
A total of 120 caregivers responded to the survey (see table 1 for demographics). Mean openness to AI-driven technologies was 2.95/5±1.33. The mean concern scores were: social justice (3.99/5±1.02), shared decision making (4.20/5±0.91), quality and accuracy (4.17/5±0.97), privacy (4.19/5±1.09), human element (3.85/5±1.11), cost (3.81/5±1.17), and convenience (3.74/5±1.09). Multivariable linear regression showed that concerns for privacy, social justice, and human element were associated with caregiver openness to AI in their child’s eye care (see table 2 for complete model results).
Conclusions :
Of the seven concern categories, caregivers had greatest concerns for quality and accuracy, privacy, and shared decision making. Concern for social justice was positively associated with openness to AI. Concerns for privacy and human element were negatively associated with openness to AI. Our study suggests that accurate AI technology with effective privacy safeguards, along with ongoing provider and family communication, is vital for caregiver acceptance of AI in pediatric ophthalmology.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.