Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the areas of use of artificial intelligence (AI) by family medicine assistants and to evaluate their knowledge and approaches to the use of AI in the field of health.

Methods: This study was designed as a descriptive research. The participants were family medicine residents in 4 university hospitals in İzmir province. Data were collected using an online questionnaire prepared by the researchers. The questionnaire included preliminary information about the participants’ use of AI as well as various sections aiming to evaluate their approaches towards AI in the field of health.

Results: A total of 204 participants, 108 (52.9%) female and 96 (47.1%) male, were included in the study. While 64.7% (n=132) of the participants defined themselves as having basic knowledge about AI, 69.1% (n=141) had knowledge about the use of AI in the field of medical imaging. While 85.3% (n=174) of the participants wanted to have AI applications courses in specialty education, only 35.3% (n=72) found AI reliable. 98.5% (n=201) of the participants thought that AI could keep records like a physician, 75% (n=153) thought that it could analyze disease prognosis, 97.1% (n=198) thought that the time taken for diagnosis would be shortened with the use of AI, and 80.9% (n=165) thought that treatment costs would be reduced.

Conclusion: AI is a development that will play a more active role in healthcare, especially in primary care, in the future. Many participants believed AI could perform certain health services like a physician, would have positive effects in various areas, and wanted AI included in health courses in specialty education. Therefore, increasing the knowledge level of family medicine assistants through AI training will contribute to the delivery of health services.