Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Regarding Artificial Intelligence Among Undergraduate Medical...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping healthcare by improving diagnostic accuracy, clinical decision-making, and patient care. As AI is progressively incorporated into routine clinical care, future physicians must develop the knowledge and competencies required to use these technologies effectively and ethically. However, evidence regarding undergraduate medical students' readiness for AI-enabled healthcare remains limited, particularly in the Indian context.

This study aimed to assess undergraduate medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward the incorporation of AI in healthcare practice and medical education.

A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 225 undergraduate medical students was carried out at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), a medical college in Maharashtra, India. A predesigned questionnaire assessed participants' knowledge of AI, sources of learning, attitudes toward AI in healthcare, perceived impact on future medical practice, and opinions on the inclusion of AI within the undergraduate medical curriculum. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods, and associations between categorical variables were assessed using the Pearson chi-square test.

Among the participants, 60.0% (135) reported acquiring knowledge about AI primarily through media, while formal training in AI, machine learning, or deep learning was limited. The majority of participants (79.6%; 179) perceived AI as a supportive tool that would complement the role of physicians rather than replace them. However, 41.8% (94) expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of AI on future employment opportunities. Radiology and surgery were identified as the specialties perceived to incorporate AI most extensively. Overall, 60.0% (135) supported incorporating AI into medical education, while 75.55% (170) favored initiating AI competency training during medical school.

Undergraduate medical students exhibited favorable attitudes and perceptions toward AI in healthcare, despite limited formal exposure to AI-related education and training. The findings support consideration of structured AI education within undergraduate medical curricula, while the self-reported nature of the knowledge assessment should be considered when interpreting the findings. Further multicenter studies using validated assessment tools are needed to evaluate AI knowledge, attitudes, and competencies.