Patient Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Care: A Scoping Review
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PURPOSE
To synthesize existing literature on patient attitudes toward AI in cancer care and identify knowledge gaps that can inform future research and clinical implementation.
DESIGN
A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched for peer-reviewed primary research studies published until February 1, 2025. The Population-Concept-Context framework guided study selection, focusing on adult patients with cancer and their attitudes toward AI. Studies with quantitative or qualitative data were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, with a third resolving disagreements. Data were synthesized into tabular and narrative summaries.
RESULTS
Our search yielded 1,240 citations, of which 19 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing 2,114 patients with cancer across 15 countries. Most studies used quantitative methods (n=9) such as questionnaires or surveys. The most studied cancers were prostate, melanoma, breast, and colorectal cancer. While patients with cancer generally supported AI when used as a physician-guided tool, concerns about depersonalization, treatment bias, and data security highlighted challenges in implementation. Trust in AI was shaped by physician endorsement and patient familiarity, with greater trust when AI was physician-guided. Geographic differences were observed, with greater AI acceptance in Asia, while skepticism was more prevalent in North America and Europe. Additionally, patients with metastatic cancer were underrepresented, limiting insights into AI perceptions in this population.
CONCLUSION
This scoping review provides the first synthesis of patient attitudes toward AI across all cancer types and highlights concerns unique to patients with cancer. Clinicians can use these findings to enhance patient acceptance of AI by positioning it as a physician-guided tool and ensuring its integration aligns with patient values and expectations.
