Purpose
Medical education reform requires students’ awareness regarding the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern medical practice. The objective of this study was to investigate students’ perceptions of AI in an academic healthcare institution across each of the 6 colleges of the university.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024 using an online survey to collect data from each college: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions, Graduate School, and Public Health. A 5-point Likert scale survey was used to assess perception of the importance of AI across 4 domains: Education, Healthcare, Self Efficacy, and future benefit to self. Descriptive statistics and percent responses were compared across domains.
Results
The survey response rate was 13.6% (n=438 respondents). A majority reported that AI education should be mandatory for healthcare students (58%) and can be beneficial for learning (63%). 73% of respondents foresee AI playing a crucial role in healthcare, with 47% anticipating it will replace some medical specialties during their lifetimes. Although 62% reported AI will benefit their careers, a notable gap exists in AI self-efficacy. 54% claim to understand basic AI principles, while only 30% are familiar with AI terminologies and 24% expect to be confident using AI tools by the end of their degrees.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the recognition among healthcare students regarding AI's transformative potential in medicine. While many advocate for AI education in healthcare curricula, fewer express confidence in their ability to utilize AI effectively by the end of their training. This underscores the need for targeted educational reforms to bridge the gap between awareness and practical competence, ensuring future healthcare professionals are prepared to integrate AI into clinical practice.