Artificial Intelligence in Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Among Healthcare Professionals in a Tertiary Hospital, in Tanzania

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in various industries, with healthcare being one of the most significantly impacted. AI technologies are being utilized for medical diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient management, promising to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and outcomes in medical care. This study aimed to assess healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude and practices regarding AI in medical diagnosis and treatment planning in a tertiary hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. This study aimed to assess healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis and treatment planning in a tertiary hospital in Tanzania. Methods: This was cross-sectional study conducted from September 2024 to December 2024. The study used purposive random method to obtain sample size and Self-administered questionnaire to obtain data from the participants was used. The knowledge part had ten (10) questions which tested basic knowledge and was graded as good if they score 7 and above, 4-6 was termed as moderate and less than 4 was poor. The altitude and practice were assessed based on the utilisation and their general practice on AI. Results: A total of 320 respondents participated in the study out of 323 who consented, yielding a 99.1% response rate. The majority were general practitioners (142/320, 44.5%), followed by allied health personnel (105/320, 32.8%). To assess the level of knowledge on artificial intelligence (AI), participants were asked questions on basic concepts such as the definition of AI, machine learning (ML), natural language (NL), and its applications. The findings showed that most respondents (70%) had a moderate level of knowledge about AI. More than two-thirds agreed that integrating AI into medical practice, particularly in diagnostics and treatment planning, is very important. However, 189/320 (59%) had never applied AI in any of their medical tasks, while 131/320 (41%) reported having practically used AI, with the majority of them being general practitioners (55/131, 42%). Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical need for targeted educational interventions to bridge knowledge gaps among healthcare professionals. Institutions should prioritize comprehensive training programs that demystify AI, emphasizing its potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline administrative tasks, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Clinical trial number: not applicable.