Artificial intelligence anxiety and AI general attitudes among future healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study

The growing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday life and business has led to increased anxiety among health sector employees. This study investigated the relationship between anxiety and attitudes toward AI among health sciences students at a university in northern Türkiye. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving final-year students, utilizing a socio-demographic questionnaire, the General Attitude Towards Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS), and the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale (AIAS). Data was analyzed using SPSS 29.0, with 415 students participating. Notably, 97.3% heard AI before, and 75.1% have knowledge about it. Male students exhibited a more positive attitude toward AI. Differences in AI anxiety and attitudes were observed across departments, with Orthotics and Prosthetics students showing the highest positive attitude score (45.79 ± 8.21), while nursing students reported the highest levels of AI anxiety. Variations in learning and job anxiety, which are sub-dimensions of AI anxiety, were found among faculty members. Nursing students experienced the most learning anxiety, while health management students faced the greatest job replacement anxiety. Our findings suggest that familiarity with AI is correlated with positive attitudes and lower anxiety levels. Increased positive attitudes were linked to reduced anxiety. Overall, this study indicates that knowledge of AI influences students' attitudes and anxiety levels, with learning- and job-related anxiety being particularly prominent. It is believed that incorporating AI into education and demonstrating its benefits in professional settings can help alleviate these negative feelings.