Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Artificial Intelligence Among Healthcare Professionals at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South Gujarat

Sajal Pandya; Chetna Patel; Brijesh Sojitra; Jaykumar Patel; Paras Shah; Akash Shah

doi:10.7759/cureus.73948

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Artificial Intelligence Among Healthcare Professionals at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South Gujarat

Cureus. 2024 Nov 18;16(11):e73948. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73948. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Authors

Sajal Pandya¹, Chetna Patel^{1

2}, Brijesh Sojitra¹, Jaykumar Patel¹, Paras Shah¹, Akash Shah³

Affiliations

¹ Pharmacology, Government Medical College Surat, Surat, IND.
² Pharmacology, New Civil Hospital, Surat, IND.
³ Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Government Medical College Surat, Surat, IND.

Abstract

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving within healthcare, promising improvements in patient care, diagnostic accuracy, and therapeutic interventions. As AI technology becomes more integrated into clinical workflows, understanding healthcare professionals' (HCPs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning AI is crucial, particularly in diverse healthcare environments like South Gujarat. This study evaluates HCPs' understanding, perception, and application of AI at a tertiary care teaching hospital in this region. Methods This observational, cross-sectional study utilized a non-validated, structured questionnaire based on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) framework. A convenient sampling technique was employed to recruit 290 HCPs, including consultant doctors, medical faculty, residents, and interns. Data were collected electronically via Google Forms and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Most participants (176; 60.7%) were junior residents, with notable representation from departments like Pharmacology and Community Medicine. Regarding AI knowledge, 80 (27.6%) of participants reported full awareness, while 182 (62.8%) were partially aware. AI subtype knowledge varied, with 84 (28.9%) identifying "Self-awareness" and 50 (17.2%) "Limited Memory." Internet sources were the predominant information source for 171 (58.9%) of participants. Notably, 192 (66.2%) recognized AI's role in saving time and enhancing accuracy, although some expressed concerns about its lack of empathy and ethical implications. Conclusions The findings highlight substantial awareness but varying depths of understanding of AI among HCPs, who are interested in further AI education. Increased educational programs on AI's ethical and practical aspects may enhance AI integration into clinical practice, aiding responsible adoption in healthcare settings.

Keywords: ai applications in healthcare; ai ethical guidelines; artificial intelligence (ai); attitude; healthcare professionals (hcps); knowledge; practice (kap).