PhD defence C.A. (Carlos) Godoy Junior

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Artificial intelligence is often presented as a solution to some of the biggest challenges in healthcare, such as increasing demand, staff shortages, and rising costs. However, it is still unclear when AI truly adds value in daily care, whether it is worth the investment, and whether patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals are willing to use it.

This thesis explores how AI in healthcare can move from promise to real-world value. It does so by combining economic evaluation with the perspectives of the people who may use or be affected by AI. The research focuses on two complex care areas: Parkinson’s disease and pediatric palliative care. Both require continuous monitoring, coordination, and close involvement of patients and caregivers.

The thesis shows that many economic studies of medical AI are still based on early evidence and often do not include important costs, such as implementation and daily use. It also shows that cost-effectiveness alone is not enough. Trust, human oversight, data use, emotional burden, and the impact on daily life strongly influence whether AI is acceptable in practice.

Overall, this thesis argues that AI should be evaluated step by step, according to how mature the technology is. By combining economic evidence, stakeholder preferences, and realistic implementation considerations, healthcare systems can make better decisions about which AI tools to develop, fund, and adopt. This approach can help ensure that AI is not only technically impressive, but also useful, trustworthy, efficient, and patient-centred.