Medical Students Trained in Emotional Intelligence Seem to be More Apprehensive of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is becoming increasingly widespread. While AI has been touted to reduce burnout and improve outcomes, its potential to undermine the doctor-patient relationship has been recognized. It is not known what future physicians believe regarding AI in healthcare and whether formal training on emotional intelligence and resilience (EIR) affects their opinion. Our medical students were asked to anonymously and voluntarily complete a 12-item survey regarding the potential impact of AI on the doctor-patient relationship (IRB #219038). Results were summarized as means and standard deviations, stratified by whether students did (EIR+) or did not (EIR-) take our institution’s EIR elective during their M2 year. Questions were measured via Likert-type scale with 1 = Strongly Disagree and 5 = Strongly Agree. Mean item responses were compared via two-sided Mann-Whitney U test (α < 0.05) using Stata, v.18 (StataCorp, LLC., College Station, TX). 50 EIR+ students and 35 EIR- students replied. EIR+ students indicated greater disagreement vs. EIR- students to the item: “I believe AI technology will improve the doctor-patient relationship” (2.98 [±1.19] vs. 3.51 [±0.98]; p = 0.0327). While not statistically significant, EIR+ students reported similar disagreement vs. counterparts to the item: “Overall, I think adopting the use of AI in healthcare will be beneficial” (3.58 [±1.16] vs. 4.03 [±1.10]; p = 0.0521). These data suggest medical students who receive EIR training are less likely to believe AI will improve the doctor-patient relationship, which may reflect the enhanced understanding of EIR acquired by elective participants.