938 Prospective Interviews to Comprehend Patient Perspectives on the Digitisation of Ophthalmology Clinics: A Quality Improvement Project

Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized medicine, enhancing efficiency and patient care. Moorfields, in collaboration with Google Health and DeepMind, employs AI algorithms to swiftly and accurately diagnose retinal diseases from scans and photographs. This improves treatment timelines and optimizes NHS resource allocation. While widespread AI integration is a few years away, it's crucial to gauge patient awareness, trust, and acceptance. This quality improvement project aims to assess patients' understanding of AI and their attitudes towards it. Method We surveyed 30 patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital's Medical Retina clinic between December 2022 and January 2023. The questionnaire included ten questions covering demographics, prior AI knowledge, trust in future AI implementation, and factors enhancing confidence and patient experience. Results In the cohort, 83.7% were aged 50-79, 60% female, and 40% male. White ethnicity dominated (50%), followed by Black or Black British (20%) and Asian or Asian British (16.7%). While 53.3% felt not confident about AI understanding, 26.7% were very likely to trust AI in treatment. Income correlated significantly with trust (p = 0.015; r = 0.605), showing lower trust in AI among those from deprived backgrounds. Over 80% preferred pre-appointment AI explanations through leaflets/videos for an improved patient experience. Conclusions Patients generally lack confidence in understanding AI, yet they express trust in its use in their treatment. Educating patients about AI is crucial for building trust, and this can be achieved through explanatory leaflets and videos.