Understanding Prospective Physicians' Intention to Use Artificial Intelligence in Their Future Medical Practice:...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

Background:

• Physicians will increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) in their practice.
• Medical curricula are adapting to include AI competencies.
• Understanding medical students' behavioral intentions towards AI is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate medical students' knowledge, experience, attitude, and beliefs regarding AI.
• To determine the necessary and sufficient conditions for medical students' intention to use AI.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage questionnaire was administered to medical students.
• Data were collected before (t0) and during (t1) the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Necessary condition analysis and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis were employed.

Main Results:

• A strong belief in AI's role is a necessary condition for intention to use AI.
• Specific AI profiles (knowledge, experience, attitude, beliefs, academic level, gender) are sufficient for high AI usage intention.
• Causal asymmetry exists between high and non-high intention profiles.

Conclusions:

• A strong belief in AI is essential for its adoption by future physicians.
• Medical education should focus on fostering this belief alongside technical AI skills.
• Educators must consider diverse student profiles influencing AI adoption.