Perceptions and Opinions of Medical Professionals on Artificial Intelligence in Optimizing the Healthcare Sector

The deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector in Nigeria is in an emerging and evolving state. Its use in the medical industry promises many benefits to all; however, AI has been adopted in medical practice primarily in developed countries. The rollout of AI in Nigeria depends on the readiness and level of acceptability of medical/health professionals, public opinion and government readiness to integrate the technology; hence this study is aimed to assess the awareness, level of perception and opinion on AI among Nigerian medical professionals.

The study was a cross-sectional design conducted among medical professionals across various geopolitical zones in Nigeria using an online Google survey form adapted from a previous study. Data entry, coding and analysis were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25.

A total of two hundred and fourteen responses were received with a male-to-female ratio of 1.35:1, and the majority were medical students and interns between the 18–30 year age group. Almost all respondents are aware of AI however only 11.2% had some theoretical training on AI. The most common combined sources of AI awareness were the internet source (87.4%) and social media platforms (86.9%). Overall, 160 (75%) medical professionals showed good perceptions and opinions on AI. There was a significant correlation between the medical cadre and opinion level. Practitioners in the lower cadre have better opinions on AI and those working in private hospitals have better opinions than state and government hospital workers (p < 0.05).

The advent of AI among medical professionals is welcoming, which implies their readiness to accept or adopt technological innovation in the medical sphere. More effort is required from the government to vest resources in this direction to actualize and upgrade the healthcare sector to internationally acceptable standards and practices.