Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: A Cross-sectional Study of Knowledge and Attitudes

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise in reshaping healthcare by transforming educational patterns, patient care, and research opportunities. However, there are obstacles impeding the proper integration of AI into the medical field. This study was undertakento evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and awareness of medical students and resident doctors regarding AI in medicine and healthcare. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted that included a total of 16 questions specifically designed to assess the knowledge and attitude of participants towards AI. The questionnaire used in the present study was developed for this study only and content validity of the initial questionnaire was adequately assessed. The questionnaire was converted into a Google Form, and participants were provided with the link to complete it. Statistical analysis was conducted using R version 4.3.2 (R-Studio). Results: Out of 194 respondents, 113 (58.25%) were medical students, and 81 (41.75%) were resident postgraduate doctors aged 19 to 32 (average 23.91 years) and a male-to-female ratio of 3.62:1. While 63.41% rated their AI knowledge as poor to below average, with 55.15% lacking understanding of many AI terminologies, 59.28% believed AI tools could enhance their understanding of medical concepts. 83.5% expressed interest in furthering knowledge on AI in healthcare. ChatGPT was the most used AI tool, primarily for language correction (50%), literature reviews and manuscript writing (43.3%), and creating presentation outlines (37.11%). Additionally, knowledge about AI devices and apps applicable to diagnostics, therapeutics, patient care, and data analysis was evaluated, along with opinions on barriers to incorporating AI in healthcare. 81.44% of respondents were unaware of AI's ethical considerations. Conclusions: AI has immense potential across diverse healthcare sectors. Nonetheless, our study also underscores the pressing need to confront challenges and equip our future healthcare professionals with the evolving realm of AI. This is essential to ensure they can effectively apply practical AI knowledge for enhanced patient care and management.