Clinician Experiences with Ambient AI Scribe Technology in Singapore: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Abstract Background The administrative burden of clinical documentation is a recognised contributor to clinician burnout and diminished care quality. Ambient artificial intelligence (AI) scribe technology, which uses large language models to passively record and summarise clinical encounters, has rapidly gained traction internationally. However, no published studies have examined clinician experiences with this technology in the Asia-Pacific region or within Singapore’s multilingual healthcare system. Objective This study explored clinician perspectives on ambient AI scribe technology at Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, focusing on perceived benefits, barriers, workflow integration, ethical considerations, and recommendations for sustained implementation. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 28 clinicians across multiple specialties at Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System (NUHS). Participants were purposively sampled for diversity in role, specialty, and usage level. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis guided by the RE-AIM/PRISM framework. The COREQ checklist was followed. Results Five themes emerged: (1) reclaiming presence in the clinical encounter, (2) navigating accuracy and trust in AI-generated documentation, (3) workflow disruption and adaptation, (4) privacy, consent, and ethical tensions within Singapore’s regulatory landscape, and (5) envisioning sustainable integration. Clinicians reported improved patient engagement and reduced cognitive burden. Persistent barriers included accuracy concerns, AI hallucinations, limited multilingual functionality, loss of documentation style, and uncertainties around compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Conclusions Ambient AI scribe technology holds promise for alleviating documentation burden in Singapore’s public healthcare system. Realising this potential requires attention to safety validation, multilingual capability, clinician training, and patient-centred consent aligned with local regulatory frameworks.

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