Awareness and Perception of AI among Medical Students of District Swat: A Cross-Sectional Study

Awareness and Perceptions of AI among Medical Students in District Swat

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly influencing modern healthcare, yet limited data exist on medical students’ awareness and perceptions of AI in Pakistan. Understanding students’ views is essential to guide future integration of AI into medical education and clinical practice. Objective: To evaluate the awareness, perception, and concerns regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) among medical students in District Swat, Pakistan. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey. Settings: Medical students from Saidu Medical College, Swat Medical College, and Saidu College of Dentistry in District Swat, Pakistan. Duration: From Jan 10 to Mar 10, 2025. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 252 medical students from three institutions in Swat. A structured questionnaire assessed their AI awareness, understanding, perceived benefits, and associated concerns. Data were analyzed using SPSS for descriptive statistics, regression, and ANOVA tests. Results: The majority of students (95.3%) had prior awareness about AI; the awareness level was 28% (high), 33% (moderate), and 39% (low), though their understanding of AI research methods was moderate (M=2.99, SD=1.01). Most students believed AI would improve Healthcare (M=3.75, SD=0.95) and supported AI education in medical curricula (M=3.69, SD=0.99). Diagnosis (32.3%) and surgery (21.1%) were the most impacted areas. Concerns about AI replacing physicians were low (M=2.69, SD=1.18), though apprehensions about AI-assisted errors persisted (M=3.27, SD=1.2). ANOVA analysis showed no significant correlation between AI awareness and concerns about AI errors (p=0.585). Conclusion: Medical students in Swat acknowledge AI’s role in medicine and express a strong interest in learning more about it. While they recognize AI’s benefits in enhancing healthcare efficiency, concerns about AI-related risks remain. The findings highlight the need for AI-focused education in medical curricula to prepare future doctors for AI-integrated Healthcare.