The impact of using AI-powered voice-to-text technology for clinical documentation on quality of care in primary care and outpatient settings: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: AI-powered Voice-to-text Technology (AIVT) offers a promising solution to reduce clinicians' documentation burden during consultations, allowing more focus on patient interaction. This systematic review assesses AIVT's impact on care quality in primary care and outpatient settings, focusing on seven components: effectiveness, efficiency, safety, patient-centredness, timeliness, equity, and integration. METHODS: A systematic search of five databases (Medline, Embase, Global Health, CINHAL, Scopus) was conducted for studies published up to September 20, 2024. Studies were included if they assessed the use of AIVT for medical documentation in primary care or outpatient settings, compared to manual or non-AI documentation methods, and reported outcomes relevant to the seven quality components. A narrative synthesis was conducted; meta-analysis was unfeasible due to study heterogeneity. FINDINGS:…