Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: A Study of Physician Attitudes and Perceptions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is rapidly advancing, reshaping diagnostic, prognostic, and operational tasks in healthcare institutions. The adoption of AI among physicians is varied, with concerns over job loss, medical errors, and lack of emotional intelligence. This study aimed to assess physicians’ attitudes and perceptions toward AI in clinical practice in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the factors affecting these attitudes and perceptions. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians at two major hospitals in Jeddah. An in-person digital survey consisted of questions regarding demographic characteristics, attitudes toward clinical AI, and perceptions of AI’s impact on healthcare. Results Of the 205 participants, 76% agreed on the accuracy of AI systems, and 60% acknowledged their efficiency as a factor that could influence their willingness to use clinical AI. However, only 25.9% reported using these systems in the past year, with the majority, 74.1%, indicating they had never used them. Notably, there was a significant association between gender and attitude toward AI, with males being more likely to have a positive attitude (p = 0.01). Conclusions While the majority of participants recognized the potential benefits of AI in healthcare, its actual utilization was low. The findings suggest the need for increased AI-related training and education among physicians and the fostering of collaboration between computer scientists, engineers, and medical professionals to accelerate the development of clinically relevant AI tools.