New survey shows clinician confidence in AI for improving patient outcomes – as endoscopy demand continues to grow

08.12.2020

European survey shows 70% of polled gastroenterology clinicians say Artificial Intelligence (AI) will reduce the number of missed lesions¹
71% said AI will improve patient outcomes and 72% said it would improve diagnostic capability²
80% said they would be more likely to use an endoscopy system with AI capabilities³

Gastroenterology clinicians strongly support AI in endoscopy to deliver improved outcomes for patients, according to a new survey released today by Fujifilm.

A survey of endoscopists, GI nurses and GI surgeons working in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, was undertaken by the global clinical network, SERMO, on behalf of Fujifilm. More than seven in ten of those surveyed said that AI technology will improve patient outcomes (71%), with a similar number reporting it will increase the efficiency of their work (69%). ⁴

Clinician choice over the tools at their disposal for procedures was highlighted as important by almost all respondents (94%), with 80% reporting they would be more likely to use a system with AI capabilities than without. ⁵

Demand for endoscopy services is growing⁶ and responses to the survey reflect the ongoing challenges faced across Europe with patient waiting times (19%), growing demand for procedures (17%), and detection rate of difficult-to-discover lesions (17%) identified as the most significant. ⁷

Research has shown each 1 per cent increase in adenoma detection rate could mean a 3 per cent decrease in the risk of colorectal cancer⁸ , a disease which kills approximately 228,000 Europeans every year⁹ . While respondents to the survey commissioned by Fujifilm rated image and video quality as the most important features in an endoscopy system, clinicians demonstrated strong confidence in the ability of AI to reduce the number of missed lesions (70%) and increase diagnostic capability (72%), with over half saying it will increase confidence in clinical decision-making (58%) as well as help to standardise the practice (54%). ¹⁰
Clinicians also recognised the broader benefits of using AI in endoscopy in terms of potential efficiencies created; almost half agreed AI will improve cost savings by reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies and surgeries (49%), and over a third said it will help to reduce waiting times for patients (34%).

Mat Tallis, European Business Manager at Fujifilm EU, said:

The survey results illustrate a significant confidence from clinicians in AI to deliver better outcomes for their patients, at a time when healthcare systems around the world are under increased pressure.

We know from our work with these frontline experts that there are a large number of factors which can negatively impact an endoscopy. That’s why at Fujifilm we constantly strive to develop innovations to optimise the practice and improve the ability of clinicians to detect lesions, even in more difficult areas of the colon.

Most recently we launched the first in our Eluxeo Ultra family of technologies, a deep-learning AI technology which provides enhanced support to users of our existing Eluxeo system to deliver our most complete and comprehensive package for endoscopists. The clinicians who have used our new CAD EYE technology say they value the real-time assistance it provides in identifying polyps that they otherwise would have missed, and the support it offers in characterising lesions to give their patients an accurate and efficient diagnosis. The Eluxeo Ultra platform will be continually updated to evolve with technology so it remains our most future-ready choice.

Prof Coron, a physician in Gastroenterology and Hepatology working at the Digestive Diseases Institute of Nantes, said:

For any gastroenterologist, the priority is doing all we can not to miss small lesions or overlook subtle changes in the mucosa. In practice, this means having the right tool for the situation with the best possible optical quality. This is clearly reflected in the survey responses of my peers across Europe.

Having had the privilege of trialling a number of different AI technologies in recent years, I am aware that not all technologies are equal. However, I can say with confidence that more advanced products like Fujifim’s CAD EYE, have recognised small lesions that I, a specialist in this area for more than 20 years, otherwise would have missed. To work without this AI support now feels like driving without a seatbelt, and for my patients, it is a re-assuring option to have a second pair of eyes in the room. They almost always opt for its use.

These survey results indicate that in time, high-quality AI will not only be desired, but seen as necessary to deliver the best care for every patient in every theatre.

_{1 SERMO survey of 300 clinicians, data on file (October 2020)
2 SERMO survey of 300 clinicians, data on file (October 2020)
3 SERMO survey of 300 clinicians, data on file (October 2020)
4 SERMO survey of 300 clinicians, data on file (October 2020)
5 SERMO survey of 300 clinicians, data on file (October 2020)
6 Srivathsan Ravindran et al, National Census of UK endoscopy services in 2019 (2019), BMJ, fg.bmj.com/content/early/2020/06/24/flgastro-2020-101538 (accessed on 20/11/2020)
7 SERMO survey of 300 clinicians, data on file (October 2020)
8 Douglas Corley et al, Adenoma Detection Rate and Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Death (2014), The New England Journal of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4036494/ (accessed on 20/11/2020)
9 Jolanta Gore-Booth et al, New Colorectal Cancer Guide (2020), Digestive Cancers Europe, www.digestivecancers.eu/new-colorectal-cancer-guide/ (accessed on 20/11/2020)
10 SERMO survey of 300 clinicians, data on file (October 2020)}

For additional information please contact:
Emma Wray on Emma.Wray(at)lexcomm.co(dot)uk or +44 (0)7771 101 514
Will Culliford on Will.Culliford(at)lexcomm.co(dot)uk or +44 (0)7912 647 815

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