What are the perceptions and concerns of people living with diabetes and National Health Service staff around the potential implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) ‐assisted screening for diabetic eye disease?
Authors' conclusion
While both PLD and HCP recognise AI's potential benefits, concerns regarding security, job impact and errors highlight the need for targeted outreach based on sociodemographic factors.
Study context
- Population
- People living with diabetes and healthcare professionals, four English NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESPs), diabetes charities and patient groups, September–December 2023
- Participants
- 1,577 vs 262
- Exposure
- People living with diabetes (PLD) vs healthcare professionals (HCP) attitudes towards AI-assisted diabetic eye screening
- PLDn = 1,577
- HCPn = 262
- Outcome
- Belief that AI would perform equally well in all subgroups
Methodological detailsanonymous online surveys, multicentre
- Anonymous online surveys
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- HCP who disagreed that AI could replace human grading
- 71%
- PLD who felt humans should remain responsible for screening outcomes
- 81%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sociodemographic subgroup differences (linear regression of Likert scores)
- Women were less accepting of AI
- PLD of Black and Asian ethnicities more cautious of data security and impact on screening experience
- HCP of Asian ethnicity generally held more negative views across themes
- Those using more online applications had more positive views towards AI
Original publication
What are the perceptions and concerns of people living with diabetes and National Health Service staff around the potential implementation of AI ‐assisted screening for diabetic eye disease? Diabet Med. Published 10 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →