Awareness and Perspectives on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Rural and Urban Primary Care Physicians in Alberta, Canada

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2025.2906

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Primary Care, Medicine, Machine Learning, Surveys and Questionnaires

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into healthcare, yet physicians’ awareness and perspectives remain underexplored. While often associated with imaging, AI applications also include online scheduling, digitized records, virtual consultations, and drug dosage algorithms. This study surveyed Canadian primary care physicians (PCPs) to assess their awareness and attitudes toward AI in healthcare.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed via email and newsletters to family physicians across Alberta, including both urban and rural settings. Responses were collected through Qualtrics.

Results: Of 79 responses, 46 met inclusion criteria. Most respondents practiced in urban areas (63%) and had no prior AI training (65%). Rural physicians reported greater comfort and interest in AI, including its use for monitoring treatment adherence (p=0.043) and analyzing EMR data for health management (p=0.027). Knowledge of AI varied widely: only 30% recognized that deep learning involves artificial neural networks, while 44% reported no knowledge of the concept. Commonly used AI tools included ECG interpreters (65%) and language translators (37%). Physicians showed interest in expanded medical uses of AI.

Conclusion: There is a lack of knowledge and use of AI tools in medicine, with both urban and rural physicians’ responses suggesting a need for more education and training in AI. The “Lack of human connection” was the main fear that was expressed regarding the use of AI in healthcare suggesting concerns about potential impacts on patient-provider relationships. This survey's findings may inform future research into the development and implementation of AI in primary care.

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References

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This bar chart illustrates survey results on knowledge about how AI works. The majority of respondents are familiar with basic concepts such as AI being an interdisciplinary field (67%), AI systems being trained using data (67%), and machine learning as a branch of AI (65%). Familiarity drops with more advanced concepts: 59% know that machine learning allows systems to improve with experience, while only 35% recognize deep learning as a subset of machine learning, 30% understand that it involves neural networks, and 35% are familiar with deep learning algorithms’ capabilities.

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Published

2025-07-16 — Updated on 2025-07-29

How to Cite

Perez, J. U., Wajahat, N., Ekhlas, S., El-Hajj, R., Lei, L., Memon, A., Valji, A., Perez, G., Johnston, A., & Zewdie, E. (2025). Awareness and Perspectives on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Rural and Urban Primary Care Physicians in Alberta, Canada. International Journal of Medical Students, 13(3), 244–254. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2025.2906

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025)

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Original Article

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