Needs Assessment for Inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in Undergraduate Medical Curriculum | Chapter 6| Medical Science: Recent Advances and Applications Vol. 4

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries globally, with healthcare being no exception. The present study was carried out with the objective of need assessment of AI in an undergraduate curriculum. The present study assessed the key aspects of AI in medicine, including students' baseline knowledge, their perspectives on AI’s significance, their beliefs about its potential impact on healthcare, and the need for AI education.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted using a validated questionnaire among MBBS students in a rural tertiary medical college of Kolar, Karnataka, India, from the first to final year for two years. 396 students took part in the study after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A pre-tested, structured, validated questionnaire was used to collect data. The study was carried out after being permitted from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Descriptive statistics were applied wherever needed.

Results: The findings revealed that the majority of respondents lacked a background in computer science and had not received additional training related to AI. Regarding the necessity of AI education in the medical curriculum, only 15% of the students felt that their current medical education had adequately prepared them to handle AI tools. However, 89% of respondents agreed that AI competency training should be integrated into undergraduate medical education.

Conclusion: With medical education being revolutionised with Artificial Intelligence, the current undergraduate medical curriculum needs to be capacitated, suggesting an urgent need to integrate AI competencies in the undergraduate curriculum to better equip the students to tackle the difficulties and possible threats of AI in medicine.

 

Author (s) Details

Ashwini K. Shetty
Physiology, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, SDUAHER, Kolar Karnataka, India.

 

Pradeep TS
Community Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, SDUAHER, Kolar Karnataka, India.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msraa/v4/5440