Assessing Medical Students’ Perceptions of AI-Integrated Telemedicine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has driven the expansion of telemedicine solutions worldwide, enabling remote diagnosis, patient monitoring, and treatment support. This study aimed to explore medical students’ perceptions of AI in telemedicine, focusing on how these future physicians view AI’s potential, benefits, and challenges. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 161 Romanian medical students spanning Years 1 through 6. Participants completed a 15-item questionnaire covering demographic factors, prior exposure to AI, attitudes toward telemedicine, perceived benefits, and concerns related to ethical and data privacy issues. A questionnaire on digital health acceptance was conceived and integrated into the survey instrument. Results: Out of 161 respondents, 70 (43.5%) reported prior telemedicine use, and 66 (41.0%) indicated high familiarity (Likert scores ≥ 4) with AI-based tools. Fifth- and sixth-year students showed significantly greater acceptance of AI-driven telemedicine compared to first- and second-year students (p = 0.014). A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) emerged between AI familiarity and telemedicine confidence, while higher data privacy concerns negatively affected acceptance (β = −0.20, p = 0.038). Gender differences were noted but did not reach consistent statistical significance in multivariate models. Conclusions: Overall, Romanian medical students view AI-enhanced telemedicine favorably, particularly those in advanced academic years. Familiarity with AI technologies is a key driver of acceptance, though privacy and ethical considerations remain barriers. These findings underline the need for targeted curricular interventions to bolster AI literacy and address concerns regarding data security and clinical responsibility. By proactively integrating AI-related competencies, medical faculties can better prepare students for a healthcare landscape increasingly shaped by telemedicine.