Radiologic Technology Students’ Perceptions on Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Radiology

Study Purpose: This study aims to analyze radiologic technology student's perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in radiology. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted. A pre-validated survey questionnaire with 17 items related to students perceptions of AI and its applications was used. The sample included radiologic technology students from three universities in Saudi Arabia. The survey was conducted online for several weeks, resulting in a sample of 280 radiologic technology students. Results: Of the participants, 63.9% were aware of AI and its applications. T-tests revealed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0471) between genders with male participants reflecting slightly higher AI awareness than female participants. Regarding the choice of radiology as specialization, 35% of the participants stated that they would not choose radiology, whereas 65% preferred it. Approximately 56% of the participants expressed concerns about the potential replacement of radiology technologists with AI, and 62.1% strongly agreed on the necessity of incorporating known ethical principles into AI. Conclusion: The findings reflect a positive evaluation of the applications of this technology, which is attributed to its essential support role. However, tailored education and training programs are necessary to prepare future healthcare professionals for the increasing role of AI in medical sciences. Keywords: radiologic technology students, radiology technologist, artificial intelligence, AI, perceptions, training, knowledge, awareness, radiology