Benchmarking the most popular XAI used for explaining clinical predictive models: Untrustworthy but could be useful.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the practicality and trustworthiness of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods used for explaining clinical predictive models.

METHODS

Two popular XAIs used for explaining clinical predictive models were evaluated based on their ability to generate domain-appropriate representations, impact clinical workflow, and consistency. Explanations were benchmarked against true clinical deterioration triggers recorded in the data system and agreement was quantified. The evaluation was conducted using two Electronic Medical Records datasets from major hospitals in Australia. Results were examined and commented on by a senior clinician.

RESULTS

Findings demonstrate a violation of consistency criteria and moderate concordance (0.47-0.8) with true triggers, undermining reliability and actionability, criteria for clinicians' trust in XAI.

CONCLUSION

Explanations are not trustworthy to guide clinical interventions, though they may offer useful insights and help model troubleshooting. Clinician-informed XAI development and presentation, clear disclaimers on limitations, and critical clinical judgment can promote informed decisions and prevent over-reliance.