Comprehensive Summary
This mixed methods study by Kacafírková et al. examined how women perceive AI-enhanced thermography (ThermoBreast) as a potential alternative or complement to traditional mammography. The researchers surveyed 228 women and conducted six focus groups (18 participants) to understand potential motivators for screening, barriers to participation, and how AI-driven thermography could improve the breast cancer screening experience. Among survey respondents, 68% had previously undergone mammography. Their main motivators included a belief in prevention (45%), invitations from screening programs (44%), and physician recommendations (29%). For women who had not been screened, barriers appeared to be more structural - most notably, a lack of physician recommendation (53%), absence of symptoms (36%), and perceived ineligibility due to age (23%). Focus group discussions additionally revealed that the quality of interpersonal interaction - respect, clear communication, emotional support - often impacted screening experiences more strongly than the technology itself. ThermoBreast was viewed favorably for being contactless, radiation-free, and potentially far more comfortable, with participants describing it as “less traumatic” and “a game changer.” Still, some women expressed caution due to uncertainty about clinical validation, a desire for human oversight over AI, data privacy concerns, and a need for clearer explanation as to how the AI component works. Synthesizing these quantitative and qualitative findings, the researchers proposed a redesigned screening pathway emphasizing improved preparation, streamlined booking systems, enhanced privacy, and transparent communication of results.
Outcomes and Implications
Although AI-driven thermography holds promise as a noninvasive, low-burden screening option, its clinical adoption is dependent on rigorous validation methods and the building of patient trust. For women who are deterred by mammography’s discomfort or the potential for harmful radiation exposure, thermography could lower thresholds for participation and expand access, particularly for groups such as younger women, those with mobility limitations, and individuals in settings where mammography infrastructure is limited. However, AI thermography does not remove key behavioral barriers, such as a lack of symptoms, insufficient provider recommendations, and anxiety around cancer detection. This highlights that screening uptake is influenced as much by communication, care environment, and trust, as by the imaging technology itself. Before thermography can be integrated into population screening, long-term comparative studies must establish diagnostic accuracy relative to mammography and evaluate how AI interpretability and oversight affect patient acceptance.