Patient Perspectives on Trust in Artificial Intelligence–Powered Tools in Prostate Cancer Diagnostics

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of prostate cancer cases calls for new ways to improve diagnostic pathways and patient care. Artificial intelligence (AI)–powered tools offer potential to streamline prostate cancer diagnostics, yet little is known about how patients perceive and experience these technologies. This study investigates how patients diagnosed through an AI-powered prostate cancer diagnostic tool express trust in AI. Based on 18 semi-structured qualitative interviews with men who underwent AI-supported diagnostics, data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three dimensions of trust were developed. First, participants described a foundational trust in the healthcare system and professionals, shaped by previous positive encounters. Second, this interpersonal trust was central to their acceptance of AI, as participants relied on healthcare professionals and their expertise to explain, justify, and endorse AI technology. Third, participants recognized AI’s potential to enhance diagnostics but emphasized the demand for human oversight and second opinion, due to concerns about accountability and AI’s lack of intuition and holistic clinical oversight. Participants were more forgiving of human errors than those made by AI, highlighting the relational and moral dimensions of trust in healthcare. These findings underscore the importance of human relationships in shaping how patients engage with AI technologies and how trust in healthcare professionals remains a critical mediator for acceptance of AI in clinical settings. Understanding patients’ trust in AI requires attention to the sociotechnical context in which care is delivered. In conclusion, trust in healthcare professionals remains paramount and is crucial for the acceptance of AI in prostate cancer diagnostics.