Attitude and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence Among Saudi Medical Students: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

Artificial Intelligence is drastically used nowadays in healthcare, but little is known about the attitude and perception of medical students towards AI in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to explore undergraduate medical student's views on AI, assessed their understanding of AI, and the level of confidence of using basic AI tools in the future.

This cross-sectional study invited 303 medical undergraduate students to complete an anonymous electronic survey, which consists of questions related to attitude, understanding and confidence of using basic AI tools. We examined the statistical association between the categorical variables by using Chi-square test.

The results of the study indicate that eighty-seven percent of participants believed that AI will play significant role in healthcare. Thirty-eight percent respondents reported that they have an understanding of the basic computational principle of AI. 71.29% respondents agreed that teaching in AI would be favorable for their career. More than half of the participants were confident in using basic AI tools in the future, Male students (p = 0.00), 26-30 years old participants (p = 0.03), intern students (p = 0.00), and Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University medical students (p = 0.04) had positive attitude of artificial intelligence. Male participants (p = 0.02), and intern students (p = 0.00) had the highest proportion of confidence in using basic healthcare AI tool. Nearly 14% students received training on AI. Participants who received training on AI reported better understanding of AI (p = 0.03), develops positive attitude towards teaching in AI (p = 0.05), more confidence in using basic healthcare AI tools (p = 0.05).

Saudi medical undergraduate students understand the significance of AI and demonstrated a positive attitude towards AI. Medical students training on AI should be expanded and improved to avoid threats for seeking jobs by adapting artificial intelligence.