ArticleFrontiers in health services2026
Attitudes, perceptions, and factors influencing the adoption of artificial intelligence Among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia: a UTAUT-based study.
Article in Frontiers in health services, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Amid the global race toward intelligent healthcare systems, Saudi Arabia stands at a pivotal moment in its digital health transformation. Understanding how prepared healthcare professionals are to adopt artificial intelligence is essential for shaping successful national strategies. Objectives: This study aimed to assess healthcare professionals' attitudes, perceptions, and intentions toward using AI in clinical practice; examine awareness and actual use; identify key predictors of AI adoption based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT); and explore the mediating role of institutional support. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 521 healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, administrators, and allied health workers, across Saudi Arabia. The survey assessed awareness, usage, perceived usefulness, ease of use, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived risks, and the intention to use AI. Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests, multiple regression, and mediation analyses. Results: Although AI awareness was remarkably high (89.1%) and optimism toward the future was strong (79.0%), only 51.2% of participants reported actual clinical use of AI, A 37.9 percentage-point awareness-use gap. Two factors consistently stood out as powerful drivers of intention: believing that AI is genuinely useful ( Conclusion: These dynamics provide unique opportunities. With 71.6% of professionals intending to adopt AI, targeted training initiatives, clearer governance frameworks, and organizational support may help facilitate the sustainable integration of AI into healthcare practice. This study offers empirical evidence and a roadmap for transforming enthusiasm into sustainable, safe, and meaningful AI integration, and may support healthcare leaders and policymakers in developing strategies for safe and sustainable AI integration within the Saudi healthcare system. Practical Implications: Advancing AI-enabled healthcare in Saudi Arabia requires investment not only in technology, but also in healthcare professionals' preparedness and organizational support. Structured training programs, hands-on exposure to AI tools, supportive leadership, adequate infrastructure, and clear data governance frameworks may help healthcare professionals adopt AI more confidently and sustainably within clinical practice.
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