Ginsburg Amy Sarah, Liddy Zylee, Alkan Eren, Matcheck Kayla, May Susanne
Clinical Trials Center, University of Washington, Building 29, Suite 250, 6200 NE 74th Street, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA.
Caption Health, GE HealthCare, San Mateo, CA, USA.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 31;15(1):3873. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-87284-1.
Obstetric ultrasound (OBUS) is recommended as part of antenatal care for pregnant individuals worldwide. To better understand current uses of OBUS in low- and middle-income countries and perceptions regarding potential use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted OBUS, we conducted an anonymous online global survey. A total of 176 respondents representing 34 countries participated, including 41% physicians, 49% nurses or midwives, and 6% ultrasound technicians. Most had received OBUS training (72%), reported expertise (60%) and confidence (77%) in OBUS use, and had access to ultrasound (85%). Assessment of gestational age, fetal viability, fetal presentation, and multiple gestation were both the most common OBUS uses and among the most highly prioritized for AI-assisted OBUS development. Most respondents noted ultrasound access was important (84%) and agreed that OBUS improves quality of care (98%) and patient outcomes (97%). Of the 34% expressing reservations associated with using AI-assisted OBUS, healthcare providers not understanding the technology (71%), misdiagnosis (62%), and cost (59%) were the most common. Better understanding the OBUS user, the pregnant individual, and the context, and taking care to ensure responsible, sustainable, and inclusive development and use of AI-assisted OBUS will be critical to successful integration and implementation and to increasing access to OBUS.
产科超声检查（OBUS）被推荐作为全球孕妇产前护理的一部分。为了更好地了解低收入和中等收入国家目前产科超声检查的使用情况以及对人工智能（AI）辅助产科超声检查潜在用途的看法，我们开展了一项匿名的全球在线调查。共有来自34个国家的176名受访者参与，其中41%为医生，49%为护士或助产士，6%为超声技师。大多数人接受过产科超声检查培训（72%），报告称在产科超声检查的使用方面有专业知识（60%）和信心（77%），并且能够使用超声设备（85%）。评估孕周、胎儿存活情况、胎位和多胎妊娠既是产科超声检查最常见的用途，也是人工智能辅助产科超声检查开发中最优先考虑的方面。大多数受访者指出超声设备的可及性很重要（84%），并同意产科超声检查可提高护理质量（98%）和改善患者预后（97%）。在表示对使用人工智能辅助产科超声检查有所保留的34%的人中，医疗保健提供者不了解该技术（71%）、误诊（62%）和成本（59%）是最常见的原因。更好地了解产科超声检查的使用者、孕妇个体及其背景情况，并注意确保人工智能辅助产科超声检查的负责任、可持续和包容性发展与使用，对于成功整合和实施以及增加产科超声检查的可及性至关重要。
