Students’ Perception Towards Applying Artificial Intelligence in Medical Field. A Cross-Sectional Study Among Medical Students, Cairo University

Artificial Intelligence (AI) means making machines able to simulate intelligence by giving the computer human-like abilities. Despite the improvement of AI in medicine, its applications in medical practice are relatively limited, reflecting a resistance to change and possibly misperceptions with negative attitudes held by physicians and future doctors.There is a great need to assess the perceptions of medical students towards AI. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge and perception of medical students in KasrAlainy, Cairo University, Egypt towards AI use in medical education and practice. The study is a cross-sectional study using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included sections: basic criteria of students, their knowledge regarding AI, their perception towards AI use in medical education, clinical practice, and possible influence on patients. A convenient sample of 309 undergraduate medical students distributed through all academic levels. Cluster analysis was used to identify shared patterns within students’ responses. Nearly four fifths of the students (80.6 %) showed either moderate or high knowledge score category. Total perception score mean and SD were 68.5 % ±12.10. Receiving any AI courses was associated with higher knowledge and perception scores (P value < 0.001 and 0.01 respectively). Students belonging to cluster 2 scored higher knowledge and perception scores were living in urban areas, had highly educated fathers, and received AI courses. In conclusion, students of higher socioeconomic and educational levels who receive any AI courses were associated with higher knowledge and positive perception among undergraduate medical students.