Perspectives of Iranian Clinical Interns on the Future of AI in Healthcare

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of American Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of management, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, Iran

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the perspectives of Iranian clinical interns on the future of artificial intelligence in healthcare, with a focus on perceived opportunities, challenges, and the readiness of medical professionals for AI integration. A total of 64 clinical interns were recruited through snowball sampling from teaching hospitals across Tehran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key insights regarding the participants' views on AI technologies in clinical practice. The findings revealed a general optimism about the potential of AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes. However, participants expressed concerns about ethical dilemmas, such as the impact of AI on clinical decision-making autonomy and patient privacy. Many interns highlighted the need for AI to complement rather than replace human judgment in medicine. Additionally, most participants identified significant gaps in their training regarding AI, emphasizing the necessity for curriculum reforms to better prepare future clinicians for working alongside advanced technologies.

Keywords


Volume 8, Issue 2
July 2024
Pages 347-370
  • Receive Date: 23 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 23 April 2025
  • First Publish Date: 23 April 2025
  • Publish Date: 01 July 2024