When Healthcare Professionals Use AI: Exploring Work Well-Being Through Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Job Complexity.

Abstract

This study examines how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by healthcare professionals affects their work well-being through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, framed within Self-Determination Theory. Data from 280 healthcare professionals across various departments in Chinese hospitals were collected, and the hierarchical regression and regression were analyzed to assess the relationship between the use of AI, psychological needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), and their work well-being. The results reveal that the use of AI enhances work well-being indirectly by increasing the satisfaction of these psychological needs. Additionally, job complexity serves as a boundary condition that moderates the relationship between the use of AI and work well-being. Specifically, job complexity weakens the relationship between the use of AI and the satisfaction of autonomy and competence, while having no significant effect on the relationship between the use of AI and the satisfaction of relatedness. These findings suggest that the impact of the use of AI on healthcare professionals' well-being is contingent on job complexity. This study highlights that promoting healthcare professionals' well-being at work in the context of AI adoption requires not only technological implementation but also ongoing adaptation to meet their evolving psychological needs. These insights provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for integrating AI into healthcare to support the well-being of healthcare professionals.