Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans
Thoughts from the UK’s pulmonary hypertension community
Survey conducted October 2025
Report published March 2025
PATIENT
& CAREGIVER SURVEY
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
Researchers from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and the University of Sheffield are seeking to understand how PH patients and their loved ones feel about artificial intelligence (AI) being used in the reading of their CT scans.
To support their research, here at the PHA UK we invited our community to complete a survey to share their views with a view to helping develop technologies in healthcare.
The research is being led by Dr Krit Dwivedi, Academic Clinical Lecturer in Radiology.
WHO RESPONDED?
A total of 105 people completed the survey.
90% have PH themselves
10% know or care for someone with PH
70% are aged 51-75
80% are female
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
THE RESPONSES
How familiar are you with the concept of AI in healthcare?
7% Very familiar
43% Somewhat familiar
37% Not very familiar
13% Not at all familiar
How comfortable do you feel about the idea of AI being used to read and analyse your / your loved one’s medical scans?
(All AI-generated results would be checked by a radiologist or PH doctor)
36% Very comfortable
38% Somewhat comfortable
10% Neutral
13% Somewhat uncomfortable
3% Very uncomfortable
How would you feel about having your / your loved one’s medical scans reviewed only by AI (without human intervention)?
5% I trust AI to do it alone
74% I would only be happy with this if the AI-generated results were reviewed by humans
15% I would prefer only humans to be involved in reviewing my scans
5% I’m not sure
Do you believe that AI in medical imaging is a positive or negative development for patient care?
26% I believe it is a very positive development
49% I believe it is a positive development
4% I believe it is a negative development
2% I believe it is a very negative development
19% I’m undecided
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
How interested are you in learning more about how AI is currently used in reading medical scans, and how it could be used in future?
46% Very interested
46% Somewhat interested
5% Not very interested
2% Not at all interested
1% I’m unsure
What do you think is most important in terms of what AI in medical imaging could achieve? (Please arrange in order of importance)
Improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis
Speed up the process of getting results
Provide a second opinion alongside human doctors
Reduce the cost to the NHS of medical imaging
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
Is there anything else you feel would be an important outcome of AI in the field of medical imaging?
“I have read that clinicians often spend lots of time discussing scans, in that different eyes interpret differently. If so, perhaps AI saves time by providing an indisputable conclusion?”
“Could be used for services nearer the patient and the images could be shared internationally. Very important to fast track to multidisciplinary team if urgent treatment is required with long term follow up”
“Maybe it might work in the future, but AI just ain’t there yet”
“Early detection can save many lives. Reducing the cost of the NHS by treating any diseases at a very early stage. Therfore this has an enormous effect of using less hospital resources and therefore also being cost effective. I believe it is good for the patient and the NHS. Saving lives matter’s!”
“Set a standard and statistics to aid future interpretation and increase chances of quicker and better prognosis and longevity of life.”
“Periodic checks of past results with details moved to make sure it is not making a preferred choice over a clinical choice”
“It would have to go alongside speeding up waiting times for patients to see HCPs”
Researchers are planning a study to investigate how AI can be used to read medical scans. This information would be used to improve patient care by helping to enable earlier diagnosis, or predict reactions to medications. How important do you think a study of this nature is?
50% Extremely important
34% Very important
12% Moderately important
2% Slightly important
2% Not important at all
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
Do any of the following things concern you about AI being used to read your / your loved one’s medical scans?
AI making errors in diagnosis
Lack of human doctor oversight
Data privacy and security issues
Understanding AI decisions
Reduced patient-doctor interaction
Other
AI can help doctors identify issues in patients such as osteopenia (weak bones) and sarcopenia (weak muscles) - which are not easy for human doctors to diagnose. How comfortable do you feel about AI suggesting a diagnosis such as these? 53% Very comfortable
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
Do any of the following things concern you about AI being used to detect additional conditions such as weak bones or muscles?
I would be concerned that AI would overlook the primary condition (such as PH)
I would be concerned about an increased risk of conditions being falsely detected
I would be concerned that AI might detect too much information for doctors to deal with
I would be concerned about the potential anxiety for patients from discovering more health issue
Other
How
do you feel about AI being used to detect other conditions alongside pulmonary hypertension?
3% I would prefer it to be used primarily for detecting PH
83% I would be happy with it being used for detecting both PH and other conditions
3% I would prefer it to be used primarily for detecting other conditions
11% I’m not sure
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
How important is it to you that other conditions such as weak muscles or bones are assessed alongside PH?
32% Extremely important
37% Very important
29% Somewhat important
2% Not at all important
Do you believe that identifying and monitoring these additional conditions could improve your / your loved one’s overall health management?
78% Yes
0% No
22% I’m not sure
How interested would you be in the results of a study that investigates how AI can be used to improve patient care?
56% Extremely interested
39% Quite interested
4% Not interested
How interested would you be in the results of a study that investigates how AI can be used to detect other conditions (such as weak muscles or bones) alongside PH?
47% Extremely interested
48% Quite interested
5% Not interested
Understanding attitudes towards the use of AI in reading CT scans_Patient & caregiver survey
47 respondents volunteered to take part in online discussion groups to help further this research and left their contact details for the purpose.
COMMENTS
“It’s wonderfully heartening to be alive in these times of rapidly improving healthcare and scientific developments.”
“Super important topic and questions!”
“I’m very interested but also apprehensive about it.”
“I think it is important to investigate how AI can be used in a positive way which could improve patient outcomes… AI should be considered a tool to assist and work alongside doctors not replace them.”
“Would be concerned that just using AI would mean future doctors wouldn’t be as efficient as they may become too reliant on AI… Feel that it may make the specialist doctors feel they’re not important when they are so important to us as patients.”
“Provided interpretation is accurate and speeds up reporting time I have no issue with its use.”
“No substitute for the human eye!”
“I think until AI has been proven to be reliable, then results should be reviewed by a human.”.
“As an IT Professional of 50 years, I prefer AI to be used as a tool by humans; not just taken as gospel.”
“Al is the way forward in providing high quality of care for patients. Early detection is of upper most importance that new technology may bring to the table and provide a higher standard of care at a reduced cost to the NHS.”
“Mustn’t replace human expertise, but definitely aids and enhances.”