More patients would prefer artificial intelligence to assess them for skin cancer than wait to see a doctor

Most people would rather have themselves assessed for skin cancer by artificial intelligence (AI) than wait to see a doctor in person, a study shows.

Last month the NHS announced plans to expand the use of the technology, which can analyze images for signs of the disease.

Research shows that AI is as accurate as a doctor in detecting skin cancer and can complete the assessment in seconds, potentially saving cancer specialists thousands of hours of time and reducing waiting lists.

Currently, patients considered to be at urgent risk of the disease must wait around two weeks for a scan. Non-emergency patients can wait months.

However, experts say there were concerns that patients would be unwilling to let AI software check them for cancer because they did not trust the technology to be accurate.

Melanoma kills around 2,300 people in Britain every year, while squamous cell carcinoma causes around 1,000 deaths

But new research shows that 62 percent of patients would rather see an AI than wait weeks to see a doctor.

Nearly 80 percent said they were confident that a computer could help doctors analyze photos of possible skin cancer. Only 15 percent said the prospect of scans being reviewed by computer made them uncomfortable.

There are around a million urgent referrals for skin cancer on the NHS every year. This usually happens after patients – or their GPs – notice a new skin lesion, an abnormal lump, bump, ulcer or sore on the skin.

Although most lesions will not be cancer, around eight percent of people referred for a scan will be diagnosed with melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common skin cancers.

Melanoma kills around 2,300 people in Britain every year, while squamous cell carcinoma causes around 1,000 deaths.

The survey of 300 people was carried out by AI company Skin Analytics, whose skin cancer detection software DERM is already used in the NHS.

The software analyzes images of skin lesions and then decides whether it is a low-risk case (which means the patient is told no further investigation is needed) or a high-risk case (which means means that a dermatologist then takes it upon himself to treat the case). make a diagnosis.

“There is an urgent need for solutions to help dermatologists prioritize the early detection of skin cancer,” said Dr Lucy Thomas, consultant dermatologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

'Encouragingly, the findings show us that patients are willing to embrace AI, supporting decision-making and reducing some of the burden on NHS services.'