KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION, AND USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AMONG CORE CLINICAL WORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UYO TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: The global trend of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rising, with applications across various fields like healthcare. AI employs different techniques from computer science, biology, psychology, and philosophy, in achieving remarkable results in tasks such as speech recognition, image processing, and diagnosis through machine learning algorithms. Although AI offers significant medical benefits, including enhanced diagnostics and personalized treatments, it also faces challenges such as data security, job displacement concerns, and ethical guidelines. Moreover, integrating AI in healthcare is hindered by the complexity of obtaining and organizing clinical data from various sources. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, use of Artificial intelligence, and willingness to learn AI and explore the factors influencing the use of AI among healthcare workers in a teaching hospital.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was used to assess 227 healthcare workers recruited via a stratified random technique from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and analysed using a statistical package for social science (SPSS) software version 25. 

Results: The findings showed 93.8% of the respondents were aware of AI, while 87.2% had good knowledge of artificial intelligence, 49.8% of respondents had a positive perception of the benefits of AI in healthcare, and most of the participants 81.9% were willing to learn about AI applications in their workplace. Only 7.9% of participants acknowledged using AI in their departments, and 67.4% said they did not use AI in their personal activities. No factor was significantly associated with poor utilization of AI. 

Conclusion: The findings from this study showed a good awareness and knowledge of AI. Less than half of the respondents had a positive perception of the benefits of AI. Majority of the respondents showed willingness to learn AI. Only a minimal proportion utilizes AI in their departments while about a third utilizes AI personally. No factor was found to be significantly associated with the use of AI in this study. The FMoH should collaborate with technological agencies to train health workers on the application of AI. The hospital management should train HWs on the use of machine learning to make diagnosis, the use of virtual assistants for medical information, and the use of robotics to assist surgeries should be conducted for health workers.