Medical science students' attitudes and perceptions of artificial intelligence in healthcare: A national study conducted in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The impact of AI has been significant across multiple sectors, including the medical field. In recent years, AI has significantly impacted the healthcare industry by providing novel approaches to various clinical obstacles. The objectives of this work are to assess the attitudes and perceptions of freshly graduated Saudi Arabian medical students towards artificial intelligence (AI) utilisation in the medical sciences, focusing on perceived usefulness, ease of use and potential impact on clinical practice, and to evaluate the students’ comprehension of AI principles and the extent to which AI is incorporated into their medical education. An electronic questionnaire was completed by 1212 medical students from 32 of 39 universities and medical schools in Saudi Arabia. The survey was disseminated through electronic mail and social networking platforms from January to April 2023. The latest version of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for data analysis. Most students (83.3%) agreed that AI would play an important role in healthcare, whereas only 4.1% disagreed. The results indicate that a majority (50.9%) of the participants disagreed with the notion that advancements in AI technology would diminish their inclination towards pursuing a profession in radiology, whereas a minority (20.3%) of the respondents agreed. However, only 26% of respondents indicated possessing a comprehension of fundamental computational principles of AI, whereas 27.4% expressed a level of ease with AI-related terminologies. The results indicated that 74.2% of the participants agreed with the notion that AI education would be advantageous for their professional development. Our findings highlight the positive attitudes of Saudi Arabian medical students towards AI utilisation and also revealing gaps in AI education. Addressing these gaps is crucial for preparing future healthcare professionals to harness the potential of AI utilisation in improving patient care and advancing the medical sciences.

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