Hearing health professionals’ attitudes and perceived skills toward artificial intelligence

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, understanding health professionals’ perceptions and comfort with these technologies is gaining importance. This study investigated hearing health professionals’ eHealth literacy, perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI), and AI self-efficacy, examining how these constructs vary across professions and relate to use of AI. It also explored their interrelationships and documented training needs and preferred providers of that training to support the integration of AI into clinical practice. An online survey was conducted among hearing health professionals (audiologists and hearing-aid acousticians) in the province of Quebec, Canada. It included validated instruments to assess eHealth literacy (eHEALS), perceptions of AI (SHAIP), and AI self-efficacy (AISES and an adapted RUSH scale). Participants also reported their use of AI (personal and professional), sociodemographic and professional characteristics, and their AI training needs, including preferred types of organizations to deliver that training. Data from 114 professionals (mean age 38.1 ± 1 years; 75.5% women) showed that eHealth literacy scores were similar across professions and between AI users and non-users. Perceptions of AI were more positive among hearing-aid acousticians and among participants using AI, regardless of their profession. While AI self-efficacy did not differ by profession, scores were higher among AI users. All participants recognized the need for AI training, with, surprisingly, professional orders and the corporate sector more often identified as preferred providers than post-secondary institutions. This study revealed that hearing health professionals who had already adopted AI into their practice showed more positive perceptions of AI and better AI self-efficacy. AI training, and those providing it, should consider professionals’ current attitudes and perceived skills towards AI to facilitate its integration into clinical practice.