Journal Article

Perceptions of undergraduate medical students on artificial intelligence in medicine: mixed-methods survey study from Palestine

Radwan, Eqbal, Radwan, Afnan, Alajez, Mohammed, Kammoun-Rebai, Wafa, Safi, Walaa, Alattar, Etimad, Jebreen, Kamel, Radwan, Walaa

2024

Overview

Background The current applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine continue to attract the attention of medical students. This study aimed to identify undergraduate medical students’ attitudes toward AI in medicine, explore present AI-related training opportunities, investigate the need for AI inclusion in medical curricula, and determine preferred methods for teaching AI curricula. Methods This study uses a mixed-method cross-sectional design, including a quantitative study and a qualitative study, targeting Palestinian undergraduate medical students in the academic year 2022–2023. In the quantitative part, we recruited a convenience sample of undergraduate medical students from universities in Palestine from June 15, 2022, to May 30, 2023. We collected data by using an online, well-structured, and self-administered questionnaire with 49 items. In the qualitative part, 15 undergraduate medical students were interviewed by trained researchers. Descriptive statistics and an inductive content analysis approach were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results From a total of 371 invitations sent, 362 responses were received (response rate = 97.5%), and 349 were included in the analysis. The mean age of participants was 20.38 ± 1.97, with 40.11% (140) in their second year of medical school. Most participants (268, 76.79%) did not receive formal education on AI before or during medical study. About two-thirds of students strongly agreed or agreed that AI would become common in the future (67.9%, 237) and would revolutionize medical fields (68.7%, 240). Participants stated that they had not previously acquired training in the use of AI in medicine during formal medical education (260, 74.5%), confirming a dire need to include AI training in medical curricula (247, 70.8%). Most participants (264, 75.7%) think that learning opportunities for AI in medicine have not been adequate; therefore, it is very important to study more about employing AI in medicine (228, 65.3%). Male students (3.15 ± 0.87) had higher perception scores than female students (2.81 ± 0.86) ( p  < 0.001). The main themes that resulted from the qualitative analysis of the interview questions were an absence of AI learning opportunities, the necessity of including AI in medical curricula, optimism towards the future of AI in medicine, and expected challenges related to AI in medical fields. Conclusion Medical students lack access to educational opportunities for AI in medicine; therefore, AI should be included in formal medical curricula in Palestine.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adult / Arabs / Artificial Intelligence / Artificial intelligence in medical and professional health education / Attitude of Health Personnel / College students / COVID-19 / Cross-Sectional Studies / Cross-sectional study / Curricula / Curriculum / Education / Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Educational Environment / Educational Opportunities / Female / Health sciences / Humans / Machine learning / Male / Medical Education / Medical laboratory technology / Medical personnel / Medical students / Medical technology / Medicine / Methods / Middle East / Mixed methods research / Pandemics / Perceptions / Pharmacy / Pilot projects / Professional ethics / Qualitative Research / Questionnaires / Sample size / Students, Medical - psychology / Surveys / Surveys and Questionnaires / Teaching / Teaching Methods / Theory of Medicine/Bioethics / Training / Undergraduate Students / Young Adult