Perceptions of Resident Doctors in Baghdad Medical City Toward the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into healthcare, with the potential to improve diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to investigate the perception of resident doctors in Medical City hospitals, Baghdad, Iraq, regarding the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in individual patient care and its impact on ethics and medical education.Participants and method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 resident doctors in Medical City hospitals, Baghdad, Iraq, in 2024. The survey included questions about the respondents' demographics, knowledge about AI in medicine, attitudes toward AI, perception of AI in the areas of individual patient care, perception regarding the impact of AI on ethics and medical education, and concerns about the use of AI in medicine. The survey was administered to participants and completed immediately in the presence of the researcher over a one-month period. A total of 230 valid responses were received, resulting in a response rate of 85%.Results: 80% of participants reported having information about AI, primarily obtained through digital sources. Residents showed high confidence in AI's ability to interpret diagnostic imaging (87.5% likely/extremely likely) and analyze patient information (77.5%), but were skeptical about AI providing empathetic care (55% unlikely/extremely unlikely). The majority (77.5%) agreed that AI would raise new ethical challenges, and 85% supported including AI competencies in medical training.Conclusions: The results suggest that while there is general awareness and a positive attitude toward AI, there are also concerns about its potential impact on the medical profession and the need for regulation and oversight.