Knowledge and attitudes of Egyptian medical students towards artificial intelligence application in medical practice: a multicenter cross‑sectional study

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted various fields, including medicine. As AI integration in medicine expands, medical students and professionals need to develop a comprehensive understanding of its applications. This study aimed to explore the self-reported knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate Egyptian medical students regarding artificial intelligence application in medical practice. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2025 among undergraduate medical students from seven Egyptian medical schools. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected via a validated structured web-based questionnaire distributed through social media to assess students’ demographics, knowledge, and attitudes toward AI applications in medical practice. This study included 1438 medical students with a mean age of 20.3 years ± 1.9 years. Overall, 55.3% demonstrated good knowledge and 66.8% showed a positive attitude toward AI applications in medical practice. Good knowledge was significantly higher among students in higher academic years (3rd year AOR = 1.88, P = 0.006; 4th year AOR = 2.02, P = 0.007; 5th year AOR = 1.86, P = 0.034) and among those reporting peers and mentors (AOR = 1.35, P = 0.017), scientific papers and books (AOR = 1.71, P < 0.001), training courses (AOR = 1.43, P = 0.004), and mass media (AOR = 1.32, P = 0.036) as their main sources of AI information. A positive attitude toward AI was significantly more common among male students (AOR = 1.50, P = 0.001), 4th-year students (AOR = 1.97, P = 0.014), and those willing to enroll in an AI course (AOR = 1.30, P = 0.039). YouTube was perceived as the most valuable social media source for AI-related information (90.4%), followed by Telegram (86.6%) and WhatsApp (65.2%). Although the Egyptian medical students who participated in this study demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward AI and a willingness to learn, they may be navigating this transition with limited institutional guidance. These findings suggest that medical schools should consider integrating AI-related technical literacy and ethical reasoning into the core curriculum.