Artificial Intelligence Education in Medical School: What do Students Want to Know?

Abstract

Background: Given the increasing impact artificial intelligence (AI) has in the field of medicine, physician leaders have called for AI education in medical training, even at the undergraduate medical education level. This study aims to assess the perceptions of US medical students on AI in medicine and to survey the most preferred teaching methods and AI topics. Methods: A mixed-methods survey was sent to all 169 US MD/DO schools asking for help with survey distribution in May 2021. Thirteen 5-point Likert scale questions assessed the perceptions of medical students about AI in medicine. We also asked how many hours students want to spend learning about AI per month. Next, we asked students to select their preferred learning modalities and AI topics. Finally, we included a free response section to capture any additional thoughts. Results 390 medical students (age: 26 ± 3) from 17 US medical schools participated in the survey. 351 (90%) agreed that “AI will take a significant role in medicine” and 347 (89%) “want to learn what medical students should know about AI.” Furthermore, only 60 (16%) agreed that learning about AI will significantly detract themselves from the existing medical school curriculum. 197 (52%) chose to spend 1-2 hours per month to learn about AI, while 123 (33%) chose 3+ hours. Despite this, only 34 (9%) said that their school has opportunities to learn about AI. Considering this knowledge, the most popular learning modalities students preferred were short lectures (264, 70%), preclinical electives (180, 48%), and Q&A panels (167, 44%). The three most popular AI topics are fundamental concepts of AI (247, 65%), when to use AI (227, 60%), and the pros and cons of AI (224, 59%). Also, 23 free text responses were received with a mix of opinions on the extreme ends. Conclusion: US medical students understand and are excited for the potential impact of AI in medicine. Current resources on AI are insufficient in medical school curriculums. Formal curricular offerings on the basics and the clinical utility of AI are good first steps to teach medical students about AI.