HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS’ KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN A PRIVATE SETTING IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

The integrations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have generated tools that enhance the efficacy of various healthcare processes. AI-driven technology enables an accurate and early detection of diseases, personalizes treatment plans according to individual patient data, and streamlines administrative tasks. However, the study on the knowledge and perceptions among healthcare professionals in Malaysia was limited. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge and perceptions of AI in healthcare among healthcare professionals in a private setting in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 198 healthcare professionals in a private healthcare setting in Negeri Sembilan, from September 2023 until December 2023. A validated questionnaire comprised of demographic data and knowledge of AI was used. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square were used to analyze the data. Overall, most of the respondents (69.7%) had poor knowledge of AI with only 49.0% of the respondents defining AI as the use of computer algorithms to perform tasks that require human intelligence. Besides, the majority of the respondents (61.6%) are aware of the integrations of AI in the healthcare system. The majority of respondents (79.8%) have not yet utilized AI and lack experience in integrating AI into their daily work routines, however, the majority expressed a readiness to learn and incorporate AI into their professional practice (79.8%). Overall, the perceptions of AI among the respondents were moderate (70.2%). Hence, it is imperative to implement focused educational and training initiatives to tackle the diverse perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI) among healthcare professionals. Furthermore, it is crucial to thoroughly review and enhance the guidelines and policies regarding AI on the ethical framework in the hospital to ensure that AI is used ethically among healthcare professionals.