The “DeepSeek effect” and the adoption–integration gap of generative artificial intelligence in clinical practice: a national online convenience cross-sectional survey of academic critical care physicians in China - Summary - MDSpire

The “DeepSeek effect” and the adoption–integration gap of generative artificial intelligence in clinical practice: a national online convenience cross-sectional survey of academic critical care physicians in China

  • By

  • Yuankai Zhou

  • Wanrong Xiong

  • Huiying Liu

  • Qianlin Wang

  • Hongbo Luo

  • Yingying Yang

  • Shengjun Liu

  • Yun Long

  • June 23, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the 'DeepSeek effect' on self-reported GAI competency, integration into clinical practice, and organized training before and after the model's introduction.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • Self-reported GAI utilization increased from 64.7% to 94.1% after DeepSeek's launch (p < 0.001).
    • Engagement in formal GAI training remained low (13.2% vs. 13.7%, p = 0.84).
    • Fewer than 30% of trained physicians completed structured training, linked to improved self-reported competence (AOR = 22.2, p = 0.021).
    • Physicians prioritized critical integration skills over basic technical proficiency (OR = 16.3, p < 0.001).
    Interpretation:

    The 'DeepSeek effect' led to increased GAI adoption but highlighted a significant gap in integration and self-assessed professional proficiency.

    Limitations:
    • The study did not assess comprehensive institutional-level integration.
    • The findings are based on self-reported data, which may introduce bias.
    Conclusion:

    The findings indicate a gap between GAI adoption and integration in clinical practice.

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