Chatbots for future docs: exploring medical students' attitudes and knowledge towards artificial intelligence and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Digital Health
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital assistants like chatbots are poised to transform doctor-patient communication.
• Equipping future physicians with AI skills is crucial for leveraging this technology in medical practice.
• Integrating AI education into medical curricula is necessary for adapting to these advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess medical students' current knowledge of AI chatbots in healthcare.
• To investigate student attitudes towards AI and chatbots in medicine.
• To identify requirements for integrating AI into medical education.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed medical students from the University of Luebeck and University Hospital of Tuebingen.
• Utilized standardized quantitative questionnaires.
• Conducted qualitative analysis of group discussions to explore attitudes towards AI and chatbots.

Main Results:

• Students generally hold positive attitudes towards AI in medicine, with high agreement for administrative tasks (83.3%) and research (91.7%).
• Concerns were raised regarding data protection (33.3%) and potential workplace monitoring (58.3%).
• Participants expressed a desire for deeper engagement with AI in their future medical careers.

Conclusions:

• Medical students recognize the impact of AI and chatbots on future medical work.
• There is a clear need for structured AI and data competency training within the medical curriculum.
• Curricular integration of AI is essential for preparing physicians for the future of healthcare.