Public health practice and artificial intelligence: views of future professionals.

Background: Globally, artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding in healthcare and public health and AI education for students in these fields will be essential. It is therefore important that future public health professionals are aware of opportunities and challenges linked to AI. Aim: The aim of t...

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Publicado en:Journal of Public Health: From Theory to Practice (2198-1833) Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 1481 - 1490
Autores principales: Mwase, Nandi S., Patrick, Sean M., Wolvaardt, Jacqueline, Van Wyk, Mari, Junger, Washington, Wichmann, Janine
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Springer Nature Jul2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2025
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      pub: Springer Nature
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        186105065
        10.1007/s10389-023-02127-5
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        atl: Public health practice and artificial intelligence: views of future professionals.
      aug:
        au:
          Mwase, Nandi S.
          Patrick, Sean M.
          Wolvaardt, Jacqueline
          Van Wyk, Mari
          Junger, Washington
          Wichmann, Janine
        affil:
          https://ror.org/00g0p6g84 School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
          https://ror.org/00g0p6g84 Comprehensive Online Education Services, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
          https://ror.org/0198v2949 State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
      su:
        South Africa
        Cross-sectional method
        Health services accessibility
        Artificial intelligence
        Universities & colleges
        Content analysis
        Population health
        Allied health personnel
        Students
        Public health
        Student attitudes
        Prevention of epidemics
        Descriptive statistics
        Chi-squared test
        Thematic analysis
        Data analysis software
        Quality assurance
      sug:
        subj:
          Cross-sectional method
          Health services accessibility
          Artificial intelligence
          Universities & colleges
          Content analysis
          Population health
          Allied health personnel
          Students
          Public health
          Student attitudes
          South Africa
          Health and Welfare Funds
          Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
          Prevention of epidemics
          Descriptive statistics
          Chi-squared test
          Thematic analysis
          Data analysis software
          Quality assurance
      keyword:
        Cross sectional survey
        Medical and Health Sciences Public Health and Health Services
        Postgraduate
        Cross sectional survey
        Medical and Health Sciences Public Health and Health Services
        Postgraduate
      ab: Background: Globally, artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding in healthcare and public health and AI education for students in these fields will be essential. It is therefore important that future public health professionals are aware of opportunities and challenges linked to AI. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the perceptions and attitudes regarding AI among one such group of future public health professionals – Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health students – in South Africa. Methods: An online survey was sent to students enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health programme from 13 June 2022 to 17 June 2022. Results: Six hundred and eighteen respondents completed an online survey (81.5% response rate). Generally, respondents thought AI would be capable of performing various tasks that did not provide direct care to individuals. Most (69%) agreed that introduction of AI could reduce job availability in public health fields. Respondents agreed that AI in public health could raise ethical (84%), social (77%) and health equity (77%) challenges. Relatively few respondents (52%) thought they were being adequately trained to work alongside AI tools, and the majority (76%) felt training of AI competencies should begin at an undergraduate level. Conclusion: Respondents expect AI to eventually carry out specific functions in public health and had reservations that AI may cause ethical challenges and increase unemployment in the country. Further exploration is needed regarding the perceptions about AI and its integration into the health system and the implications for undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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