Evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence triage
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence triage in online consultations to reduce delays in urgent and emergency primary care: a qualitative process evaluation
IRAS ID
335429
Contact name
Benjamin Brown
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 3 months, days
Research summary
Why?
In England, online consultations in primary care have been available in 85% of GP practices since May 2020 and in 2021 they accounted for 72% of all patient requests. As a result our team has already developed an AI triage system in partnership with GP practice staff and patients. It has been approved for use in the NHS and has been used in a small number of GP practices where it has been shown to reduce delays in resolving urgent patient requests
We want to test if the AI triage system in GP practices in England can be used by staff to identify urgent and emergency requests made by patients and reduce delays in patients receiving the care that they need.
What we will do:
We will observe and interview staff and patients who use the AI triage system in 7 GP practices in England to help us understand how well and why AI triage works in different communities, whether there are any inequality issues that need to be addressed or any other issues.
Who will be eligible?
Patients between the ages of 18-90 in the 7 GP practices, and staff members in general practices in England.
Where?
The study will take place in 7 GP practices in England, who have been using the AI triage system.
How?
The data collection will take place over a 12 month period, with the minimum individuals being involved for 1 hour or multiple hours if the participant is a staff member who is being observed and interviewed longitudinally . The time taken for observations will be up to 25 days in each practice with a maximum of 4-6 hours per day. We do not anticipate that individual will be observed for the whole time period and observations will be flexible.REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0071
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion