The Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Artificial Intelligence Anxiety: The Case of Medical School Resident Physicians

Aim: To examine the relationship between resident physicians' Artificial Intelligence literacy levels and their anxiety towards Artificial Intelligence, and to evaluate differences according to sociodemographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 296 resident physicians working at Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine between January and February 2025. Data were collected via an online survey comprising a sociodemographic information form and questions regarding attitudes, experiences of AI, the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale, and the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale. The data were analysed using the SPSS 25.0 programme, with independent simple t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation analysis being employed. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: Scale scores were found to be significantly higher among those who spent more time online, those with experience with AI, and individuals interested in Artificial Intelligence. The Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale score was higher in women and in individuals who believed that artificial intelligence could replace them in the future. A significant negative correlation was found between the total Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale score and the usage and evaluation sub-dimension and the learning sub-dimension of the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale. Conclusion: This suggests that personal experiences and educational factors influence perceptions of artificial intelligence. Integrating Artificial Intelligence knowledge and applications into medical education may enhance physicians’ awareness and attitudes.