Attitudes and perceptions of Thai medical students regarding artificial intelligence in radiology and medicine

Abstract

Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made a profound impact on the medical sector, particularly in radiology. The integration of AI knowledge into medical education is essential to equip future healthcare professionals with the skills needed to effectively leverage these advancements in their practices. Despite its significance, many medical schools have yet to incorporate AI into their curricula. This study aims to assess the attitudes of medical students in Thailand toward AI and its application in radiology, with the objective of better planning for its inclusion. Methods Between February and June 2022, we conducted a survey in two Thai medical schools: Chiang Mai University in Northern Thailand and Prince of Songkla University in Southern Thailand. We employed 5-point Likert scale questions (ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree) to evaluate students’ opinions on three main aspects: (1) their understanding of AI, (2) the inclusion of AI in their medical education, and (3) the potential impact of AI on medicine and radiology. Results Our findings revealed that merely 31% of medical students perceived to have a basic understanding of AI. Nevertheless, nearly all students (93.6%) recognized the value of AI training for their careers and strongly advocated for its inclusion in the medical school curriculum. Furthermore, those students who had a better understanding of AI were more likely to believe that AI would revolutionize the field of radiology (p = 0.02), making it more captivating and impactful (p = 0.04). Conclusion Our study highlights a noticeable gap in the understanding of AI among medical students in Thailand and its practical applications in healthcare. However, the overwhelming consensus among these students is their readiness to embrace the incorporation of AI training into their medical education. This enthusiasm holds the promise of enhancing AI adoption, ultimately leading to an improvement in the standard of healthcare services in Thailand, aligning with the country’s healthcare vision.