Artificial intelligence in outcomes research: a systematic scoping review

Introduction : Despite the number of systematic reviews of how artificial intelligence is being used in different areas of medicine, there is no study on the scope of artificial intelligence methods used in outcomes research, the cornerstone of health technology assessment (HTA). This systematic scoping review aims to systematically capture the scope of artificial intelligence methods used in outcomes research to enhance decision-makers' knowledge and broaden perspectives for health technology assessment and adoption. Areas covered : The review identified 370 studies, consisted of artificial intelligence methods applied to adult patients who underwent any health/medical intervention and reported therapeutic, preventive, or prognostic outcomes. Artificial intelligence was mainly used for the prediction/prognosis of more frequently reported outcomes, efficacy/effectiveness, among morbidity outcomes. The predictive analysis was common in neoplastic disorders. Neural networks algorithm was predominantly found in surgical method studies, but a mixture of artificial intelligence algorithms was applied to the studies with the rest of the interventions. Expert opinion : There are certain gaps in artificial intelligence applications used in outcomes research across therapeutic areas and further considerations are needed by decision-makers before incorporating artificial intelligence usage into HTA decision-making processes.

Automated summary

Despite the number of systematic reviews on the application of artificial intelligence in various medical fields, there has been no study on the use of artificial intelligence methods in outcomes research, a crucial aspect of health technology assessment (HTA). This systematic scoping review aimed to capture and analyze the range of artificial intelligence methods used in outcomes research. The review identified a total of 370 studies focusing on adult patients undergoing medical interventions and reporting therapeutic, preventive, or prognostic outcomes. The review found that artificial intelligence was mainly used for predicting more frequently reported outcomes, particularly in neoplastic disorders, with neural networks algorithms being commonly used in surgical studies. However, there were variations in the use of artificial intelligence algorithms across different medical interventions, highlighting the need for further considerations by decision-makers before incorporating artificial intelligence into HTA decision-making processes.