ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MEDICINE: A STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS.
Main Article Content
Keywords
Artificial intelligence, Medical students, Health care technology.
Abstract
Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) encompasses technologies that mimic human intelligence, including speech recognition, decision-making, and visual perception. Its applications in healthcare range from drug development and medical imaging to tailored treatment regimens and predictive analytics. AI improves efficiency and patient care by assisting clinicians and enabling telemedicine. However, its widespread adoption depends on a deep understanding of AI among medical students, highlighting the need for AI-focused education to foster innovation in healthcare.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital, surveyed final MBBS students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee, the study used Google Forms to collect 79 complete responses over a 15-day period. The questionnaire assessed students' AI knowledge through 7 yes/no items, attitudes with 10 items rated from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree,' and practices using 7 items rated from 'never' to 'always.
Results:The study found that 55 out of 79 (69.62%) respondents were female, while 24 (30.38%) were male. Notably, 70.3% lacked solid AI knowledge, and 72.2% were unfamiliar with deep learning/machine learning concepts. Only 5.4% attended AI-related courses, indicating a gap in AI education among medical students. Although most students had a neutral attitude toward AI, 43.2% agreed healthcare students should learn AI basics. In practice, AI usage was low, with 41.7% "never" using AI for exam preparation and 43.2% for homework/assignments.
Conclusion: the findings suggest that while medical students show interest in AI, there is a lack of comprehensive education and training in AI, leading to minimal use in practice. The study underscores the need for enhanced AI education and practical exposure to better prepare medical students for the evolving healthcare landscape.
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Dr. Danasegaran M
Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College & Hospital, Karaikal. Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (DU)
Dr. Shilpa T Patil
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College & Hospital, Karaikal. Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (DU)
Dr. M. Thirumaran
Professor, Department of Physiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College & Hospital, Karaikal. Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (DU)
Dr. P.V.Balaji
Professor, Department of Physiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College & Hospital, Karaikal. Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (DU)