[HTML] from jmir.org Readiness and Acceptance of Nursing Students Regarding AI-Based Health Care Technology on the Training of Nursing Skills in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across various sectors, including health care, necessitate the need for a comprehensive understanding of their applications. Specifically, the acceptance and readiness of nursing students as future health care professionals to adopt AI-based health care technologies, along with the factors influencing these attitudes, are critical for facilitating the effective integration of AI in health care settings. Objective: This study aimed to assess the readiness and acceptance of nursing students regarding the use of AI-based health care technologies in the nursing skills training in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. A convenience sampling technique was applied to recruit 322 participants. Data were collected between June and September 2023 using a self-administered questionnaire that included the technology readiness index (TRI) and the technology acceptance scale. Results: Approximately 92.2%(297/322) of participants exhibited positive attitudes toward AI, and 74.8%(241/322) demonstrated innovativeness, indicating a generally favorable perception of AI. However, more than half of the students (59%[190/322] and 59.3%[191/322], respectively) reported feelings of discomfort and negative perceptions regarding AI use. Regarding TRI, 69.6%(224/322) of participants showed moderate readiness, while 30.4%(98/322) exhibited a high level of TRI. A substantial majority (320/322 99.4%) expressed acceptance of AI-based technologies in their training, with only 0.6%(2/322) reporting nonacceptance. Older students (aged> 22 y ?