Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Assumptions about AI in Clinical Practice among Final-Year Medical Students and Internees in Peripheral Hospitals of Sialkot, Pakistan

Authors

Abstract

Objective: The present study evaluated the level of knowledge, perceptions, and readiness of young physicians and final-year medical students on AI in healthcare, specifically in antibiotic selection.

Methods

: A structured questionnaire and descriptive statistics in a cross-sectional survey of 400 participants (221 final-year students, 179 house officers).

Results

 Out of the respondents, 52.7% were female largely aged between 24-26 years. There was a high awareness of AI (79.7%), primarily through self-study and Internet sources (69.5%). Though 73.3% found AI helpful in antibiotic selection, only 38.5% partly and 27% completely agree to use it to inform prescribing, and decisions to prescribe still lie with physicians. Data privacy was also a concern (36.5%), as well as inappropriate recommendations (32.5%), and the absence of empathy (31%). Interestingly enough, 84 percent of participants did not receive formal AI training, but 77.3 percent supported its presence in the curriculum.

Conclusion

 Young doctors and medical students are optimistic (but careful) about AI in healthcare. Potentially this would be useful in antibiotic stewardship, although safety, training and ethical issues have indicated that it is not something that should be introduced without some kind of formal education and evidence-based advice.

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence, Healthcare, Antibiotic prescribing, Perceptions, Curriculum

Published

2026/08/21

Issue

Vol. Volume 7-issue 3

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