Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, SAU.
College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, SAU.
Ann Afr Med. 2024 Jul 1;23(3):343-351. doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_192_23. Epub 2024 May 8.
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the promise to revolutionize the field of medicine and enhance the well-being of countless patients. Its capabilities span various areas, including disease prevention, accurate diagnosis, and the development of innovative treatments. Moreover, AI has the potential to streamline health-care delivery and lower expenses. The community should be aware of the potential applications of AI in health care, so that they can advocate for its development and adoption. Hence, the objective of this study is to assess the community's perspectives regarding the utilization of AI in health care.
A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Saudi Arabia during the period of June to October 2023. The questionnaire was distributed to people on various social media platforms using a convenience sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.
The study included 771 individuals, with 42.5% having a positive outlook on the use of AI in health care, 31.8% having a neutral view, and 7.5% having a negative view. The only factor associated with a positive opinion was regional differences (P = 0.006). Moreover, participants who used medical apps or programs (P = 0.026), wearables (P = 0.027), felt more confident in using technology (P < 0.001), enjoyed using technology (P < 0.001), found it easier to familiarize themselves with new devices or programs (P < 0.001), and had more knowledge about AI (P < 0.001) had more positive opinions regarding the use of AI in health care.
The study found that most Saudis, especially those who were familiar with the use of technology, support the use of AI in health care, with a positive or neutral view. Yet, targeted campaigns in certain regions are needed to educate the entire community about AI's potential benefits.
人工智能（AI）有望彻底改变医学领域，造福无数患者。它的功能涵盖了多个领域，包括疾病预防、准确诊断和创新治疗方法的开发。此外，AI 还有望简化医疗保健服务并降低成本。社区应该了解 AI 在医疗保健中的潜在应用，以便能够倡导其发展和采用。因此，本研究旨在评估社区对 AI 在医疗保健中应用的看法。
本研究于 2023 年 6 月至 10 月在沙特阿拉伯进行了一项横断面、基于问卷的研究。采用便利抽样法在各种社交媒体平台上向人们分发问卷。使用社会科学统计软件包对收集到的数据进行分析。
研究共纳入 771 人，其中 42.5%对 AI 在医疗保健中的应用持积极态度，31.8%持中立态度，7.5%持消极态度。唯一与积极观点相关的因素是地区差异（P = 0.006）。此外，使用医疗应用程序或程序（P = 0.026）、可穿戴设备（P = 0.027）、对使用技术更有信心（P < 0.001）、喜欢使用技术（P < 0.001）、更容易熟悉新设备或程序（P < 0.001）以及对 AI 有更多了解（P < 0.001）的参与者对 AI 在医疗保健中的应用持更积极的观点。
本研究发现，大多数沙特人，尤其是那些熟悉技术使用的人，支持在医疗保健中使用 AI，持积极或中立态度。然而，需要在某些地区开展有针对性的宣传活动，向整个社区普及 AI 的潜在益处。
