Perception of Medical Speciality Professors towards Including Artificial Intelligence in their Curricula

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Digital Health

Background:

• Medical residents express interest in artificial intelligence (AI) for clinical and academic use.
• Limited research exists on medical speciality professors' perceptions of AI integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the proportion of medical professors who deem AI inclusion in their speciality curricula necessary.
• To assess professors' self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and barriers related to AI tools.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed 108 medical speciality professors in Monterrey, Mexico.
• A self-administered questionnaire gathered data on AI perception, self-efficacy, benefits, and barriers.
• Statistical analysis included frequencies, confidence intervals, and comparative tests (Mann-Whitney, Student's t-tests).

Main Results:

• 90.7% of professors (95% CI: 85.3-96.2) considered AI incorporation into academic programs essential.
• Higher self-efficacy scores were observed in professors from the private sector and those with prior AI training.
• Professors with master's degrees or doctorates, and those with AI courses, reported greater perceived benefits.

Conclusions:

• A significant majority of medical speciality professors advocate for AI integration into curricula.
• Professors generally exhibit high self-efficacy and recognize the benefits of AI in medical education.
• Medical education authorities should consider the increasing role of AI in contemporary educational settings.