Medical undergraduate students' awareness and perspectives on artificial intelligence: A developing nation's context

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare delivery.
• Integration of AI into medical education is currently limited.
• This study evaluates undergraduate healthcare students' understanding and views on AI in medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess undergraduate healthcare students' knowledge of AI.
• To explore their perceptions of AI applications and challenges in healthcare.
• To determine the perceived need for AI education within healthcare curricula.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 939 undergraduate students across medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and physical therapy programs.
• Data collected via a validated questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis using IBM SPSS, including Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Main Results:

• Moderate AI knowledge observed, with variations across disciplines (p=0.039); BDS students scored highest, nursing lowest.
• Most students attended AI talks (77%), but formal AI training was low (11.8%).
• Positive perceptions of AI in patient care (documentation, intervention selection), alongside concerns regarding job displacement and ethics. High support for AI in curricula (78.8%) and training (82.2%).

Conclusions:

• Undergraduate healthcare students recognize AI's medical potential but have ethical and job displacement concerns.
• A significant need exists for structured AI education in medical curricula.
• Curricular integration is essential to address knowledge gaps and prepare students for AI-driven healthcare.