Medical Students’ Views on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the perceptions of medical students at Northern Border University (NBU) regarding the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among NBU medical students between June 2024 and March 2025, using a structured questionnaire. A random sampling method was used to recruit 425 participants. A sample of 425 students was selected based on a calculated minimum of 386 participants, ensuring representation with a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error. Data were analysed using STATA/SE 11.2 with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Most students acknowledged the beneficial role of AI in enhancing healthcare information access (80.71%), reducing clinical errors (59.06%), and improving decision-making (56.24%). The overall mean perception score was 5.78 (SD ±2.95) out of 10. However, concerns were noted regarding AI's impact on the patient-doctor relationship and confidentiality. No statistically significant differences in perception were found based on age (p = 0.28), gender (p = 0.07), or academic year (p = 0.06). Conclusion: NBU medical students largely recognize the potential of AI in healthcare but express reservations about its ethical and interpersonal implications. These insights can guide curriculum enhancements to better integrate AI in medical education