Volume 29, Issue 155, January 2025

Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of medical students regarding Artificial intelligence in radiology in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Khalid Aljoqiman¹, Nora Alsultan², Thamer Alhabdan^2♦, Latifah Aldhaif², Mohammed Albesher², Nora Albaqshi², Zainab Bu-Khamsin², Hussain Alali², Fatimah Alhabdan²

¹Professor Assistant of Radiology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
²College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding Author
College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning, is transforming radiology by enhancing diagnostic and imaging analysis capabilities. However, the integration of AI into clinical practice has sparked significant debate within the field. Research worldwide has shown that advancements in AI have negatively influenced medical students’ interest in pursuing careers in diagnostic radiology. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of medical students toward AI in radiology in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study, conducted in Eastern Province medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of AI in radiology using an online survey. Results: Our study included 393 medical students from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The respondents showed a good level of knowledge, with 31.7% of them having a high level of knowledge. A significant proportion of participants (63.8%) believed that AI would reduce the number of needed radiologists in the future, and a lesser proportion (37.3%) of them believed that AI would replace human radiologists in the foreseeable future. Moreover, the study revealed that participants with higher knowledge of AI in radiology tended to have more negative attitudes compared to those with less knowledge. As a result of these concerns, 31.8% of medical students were less likely to consider diagnostic radiology as a career option. In conclusion, medical students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia demonstrate a strong understanding of AI and deep learning but express a more pessimistic perspective on the future of radiology as AI advances.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Radiology, Saudi Arabia, Al-Ahsa

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e14ms3449

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i155.e14ms3449

Published: 21 January 2025