Front Public Health. 2026 Jul 13;14:1845439. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1845439. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The rapid digitalization of healthcare has positioned Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key driver of transformation in medical imaging. While its technical capabilities are well established, evidence on its real-world impact on departmental performance and workforce dynamics remains limited.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of AI integration on diagnostic accuracy, operational efficiency, and staff performance in medical imaging departments.
METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed using a structured, validated Likert-scale questionnaire administered to healthcare professionals (N = 400), including radiologists, technologists, and department managers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to assess the contribution of AI-related factors to departmental performance.
RESULTS: AI integration explained 57.8% of the variance in departmental performance (R 2 = 0.578, p < 0.001). Diagnostic accuracy (β = 0.236, p < 0.001) and operational efficiency (β = 0.306, p < 0.001) emerged as statistically significant positive predictors of departmental performance, with operational efficiency demonstrating the strongest effect. Although Staff Performance demonstrated a positive association with departmental performance, it did not remain a statistically significant independent predictor after multivariate adjustment.
CONCLUSION: AI integration improves both clinical effectiveness and operational performance in medical imaging departments. Effective implementation requires workflow integration, workforce training, and alignment with broader health system priorities. Future research should explore longitudinal and multi-center impacts on patient and population health outcomes.
PMID:42517126 | PMC:PMC13402428 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1845439
