To explore the perspectives of Kazakhstani healthcare professionals on environmental sustainability in healthcare.
An exploratory qualitative design.
Four focus group discussions (FGDs) on environmental sustainability in healthcare were conducted among healthcare professionals (nurses, physicians, midwives and physical therapists) from June to August 2023 in three cities of Kazakhstan. Each FGD consisted of at least 6 to 11 participants and lasted between 60 and 90 minutes. The collected data were analysed using the thematic analysis.
A total of 137 initial codes were identified and further organized into 22 sub-themes based on similarities in codes and meanings, and then 5 significant themes were identified. The five main themes are ‘Environmental Sustainability Practices in Healthcare’, ‘Purposes of Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare’, ‘Impact of Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare in Patients’, ‘Challenges in Implementing Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare’ and ‘The Role of Healthcare Leadership in Improving Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare’.
The findings highlighted the perceptions and practices of healthcare professionals on environmental sustainability's purposes in healthcare, its impacts on patients and its implementation challenges. The study also underscored the critical role of strong and active leadership in ensuring a sustainable implementation of green policies in healthcare facilities and achieving successful results of environmentally conscious healthcare practices.
The findings provide invaluable information that can be used by policymakers and healthcare organization leaders to create a sustainable healthcare system. Implementing environmental sustainability practices in healthcare should be widespread, intentional, and sustainable, entailing strong leadership and unwavering personal and organizational commitment.
No patient or public contribution.
We adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines, specifically the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.
Artificial intelligence integration into healthcare has gained significant attention in recent years, with its use ranging from disease diagnosis to surgical assistance. While artificial intelligence's potential to improve patient outcomes and optimise patient care is undeniable, concerns regarding privacy, transparency, and the potential for medical errors persist. To take full advantage of artificial intelligence's transformative abilities, understanding patient perceptions and attitudes towards its integration into medicine is crucial for ethical considerations and health outcomes.
This study aimed to describe patients' perceptions of medical artificial intelligence and its integration into the healthcare system, drawing attention to a crucial yet understudied aspect of artificial intelligence adoption in Kazakhstan.
Descriptive qualitative design.
From February to March 2024, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews amongst 13 patients. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and then analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The study adhered to the COREQ guidelines.
Five themes emerged from 13 interviews: the benefits of artificial intelligence on patient care, the importance of human factors on patient care over artificial intelligence, revolutionising patient care delivery through artificial intelligence, patient education and artificial intelligence, and balancing technology and human interaction in artificial intelligence-driven intervention.
Patient perceptions of artificial intelligence integration into healthcare were primarily positive. Nevertheless, patients prefer artificial intelligence as a supplementary tool under human supervision due to risks such as possible medical errors and violations of patient privacy.
Patients provided the data for this study. The researchers interviewed them about their perceptions of medical artificial intelligence and its integration into the healthcare system. The patients or the public contributed nothing to the other aspects of the study.