Table 7 Examples and ways of rating the given answers to the question: What is your understanding of AI applied to surgery?
Rated as | Given answer | Reason for rating |
|---|---|---|
Concordant | “Capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior.” | The statement recalls the ability of AI to mimic human behavior |
“It is capability of a computer system to mimic human cognitive functions.” | ||
“A set of computer systems aiming at performing tasks normally based on human intelligence, starting from repetitive task and upscaling upon results.” | ||
“Artificial intelligence is a technology which enables a machine to simulate human behavior. Machine learning is a subset of AI which allows a machine to automatically learn from past data without programming explicitly.” | ||
“Artificial intelligence is the ability of a computer system to mimic human cognitive functions. Through AI, a computer system may simulate also the reasoning that people use to acquire new information and make decisions.” | ||
“The ability of machines to learn complex data and then generate predictions can assist clinical decisions and which can be used to improve clinical care in surgery.” | The statement stresses the learning aspect and the capability to handle complex data to support decision-making | |
“[AI] help[s] in the surgical daily practice obtained thanks to shared experience, obtained from several colleagues, throughout the collection of big data analyzed and optimized by means of computational analysis” | ||
“AI/ML are not yet applicable in an extensive way to surgery. However, some relevant applications, particularly during the diagnostic phase (especially radiology), can influence surgical indication. After surgery, some examples of AI/ML algorithms are used in pathology to define the diagnosis better, thus the patient's prognosis.” | The statement shows a good understanding of the goals and potential of AI applied to surgery | |
“[AI] works by combining large amounts of data with fast, iterative processing and intelligent algorithms, allowing software to automatically learn from data patterns or characteristics.” | The statement shows a good understanding of how the technology works | |
Inconclusive | “Application of big data.” | Although big data may be linked with the functioning of AI, the statement is incomplete |
“Simulation.” | Although simulations may be linked with the functioning of AI, the statement is incomplete | |
“Telemedecine; robotic training.” | Although telemedicine/e-health and robotic surgery may be somehow linked with the functioning of AI, the statement is incomplete | |
“Use of artificial intelligence for learning.” | The statement recalls only one scope, which is, by the way, not well identified | |
“Technology using to facilitate decisions.” | ||
“Useful for risk stratification and some decision-making.” | ||
“It can help in making decisions and developing new techniques.” | ||
“A predictive model” | ||
Discordant | “I don't have a deep understanding of how these work, although I have seen several publications on this lately.” | In the statements, participants admit they have poor or no knowledge about AI applied to surgery |
“I don’t know.” | ||
“None.” | ||
“Nothing.” | ||
“I don't know AI applied to surgery.” | ||
“Robotic surgery.” | Although the literature is starting to discuss AI-empowered surgical robots, the actual robotic surgical systems do not work with AI | |
“Robots.” | ||
“AI applied to surgical field.” | Redundant/repetition |