Understanding AI in Oncology
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI), especially large language models (LLM), into oncology presents promising benefits. However, the knowledge, attitudes, and ethical concerns of Turkish medical oncologists remain largely underexplored. In Türkiye, around 1340 oncologists practice, and understanding their perspectives is vital. A recent online survey conducted by the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology aimed to shed light on these issues.
This survey, carried out between October and November 2024, gathered data on demographics, AI usage, and self-assessed knowledge among participants. Out of 147 responding oncologists, a significant 77.5% reported using AI, primarily LLMs, yet only 9.5% had received formal education in this area. While many oncologists showed support for AI to aid in prognosis estimation, research, and decision-making, concerns about patient-physician relationships and public perception lingered. Ethical worries included issues related to patient management and scholarly integrity. Furthermore, over 79% felt current regulations were insufficient, pushing for enhanced ethical audits, legal frameworks, and the necessity of patient consent. The majority expressed a willingness to undergo AI training, indicating a significant educational gap. Overall, Turkish oncologists display a cautious optimism towards AI integration, emphasizing the need for better training and regulatory clarity.
