Awareness of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Descriptive Cross-Ssectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by improving efficiency and reducing errors; however, challenges such as inadequate funding and lack of awareness among healthcare professionals hinder its integration into healthcare service delivery.

AIM

To assess the awareness of undergraduate student nurses regarding the role of AI in healthcare.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted at two nursing colleges in Pakistan: The Foundation University College of Nursing and the Institute of Nursing Wah Medical College.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 162 student nurses was selected, consisting of BSc Nursing students from the two nursing institutions.

METHODS

Data were collected using a pre-validated questionnaire adapted from Ahmad et al. (2023), comprising multiple-choice and Likert scale questions. The questionnaire assessed demographic information and awareness of AI, including barriers and advantages of AI in healthcare. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for demographic variables and responses from participants.

RESULTS

Of the total sample, 59.9 % of students had heard of AI in healthcare, while only 43.8 % had the requisite technical skills to understand AI literature. Additionally, 38.3 % had never encountered AI applications in their profession. The primary barriers to AI education were the lack of specialized courses (35.8 %) and mentorship (41.4 %), while key benefits included faster healthcare procedures (51.2 %) and a reduction in medical errors (32.7 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Although many student nurses are aware of AI, there is a substantial gap in technical knowledge and practical application. To address this, nursing curricula should include dedicated AI courses and practical training modules. Enhanced educational resources and support networks are crucial for overcoming existing barriers and leveraging AI's potential to transform healthcare practices.