Artificial Intelligence Technology Integration in Healthcare: Al Ahsa Nursing Students’ Attitudes and Readiness

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is an innovative field of computer science with the potential to transform medical practice and healthcare delivery. Comprehending attitudes and readiness of nursing students for AI is essential for its successful integration into healthcare. The aim was to explore Al Ahsa nursing students’ attitudes and readiness toward AI technology in healthcare. Materials and Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design conducted from September 2024 to November 2024 at the College of Nursing, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), AL Ahsa campus, Saudi Arabia. A stratified random sampling of 219 nursing students from various academic levels within the College of Nursing at KSAU-HS, AL Ahsa campus, was recruited. A paper-based structured questionnaire was administered to the participating nursing students. This questionnaire encompassed students’ demographic data, attitudes toward AI technology integration in healthcare, and medical AI readiness, which was measured by using the Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS). Results: 94% of the participating students demonstrated negative attitudes toward AI integration in healthcare, primarily driven by concerns about job displacement and potential for dehumanization of patients’ care. Readiness scores across cognitive, ability, vision, and ethics domains were below optimal, reflecting gaps in AI-related knowledge and competencies. Conclusion: The study concluded that a majority of the nursing students exhibited a negative attitude toward the integration of AI in healthcare and demonstrated low readiness for its implementation. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between students’ attitudes and their readiness for AI integration, indicating that more positive attitudes were associated with higher levels of readiness.