AI-ASSISTED NURSING CARE: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF NURSES’ OPINIONS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PATIENT CARE IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study aims to examine nurses’ attitudes, perceptions, and views regarding AI-assisted nursing care in hospitals in Pakistan. The study was exploratory in nature, with the objective of exploring the attitudes, perceptions, and views of nurses toward AI-assisted nursing care in hospitals in Pakistan. A mixed-method sequential exploratory research design guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) developed by Davis (1989) was adopted and quantitative survey data were mixed with qualitative responses to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the nurses views. An online questionnaire was designed as per TAM and was administered to 100 registered nurses working in different hospitals across Pakistan.  Based on the survey findings, nurses demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in nursing care. Most participants believed that AI can improve patient care accuracy (71.5%), reduce workload (61.9%), save time in hospital procedures and documentation (80.9%), and should continue to be used in healthcare settings (47.6%). A majority also reported being comfortable using AI systems in their daily nursing duties (57.2%) and expressed confidence in AI-based technologies for patient care (66.7%). However, despite these favorable perceptions, only 33.3% of nurses had received formal training in AI-assisted nursing technologies, highlighting a significant knowledge gap. Concerns regarding reduced human interaction, privacy, accountability, and ethical implications were also evident among some respondents. The qualitative results indicated that nurses' attitudes towards AI are largely supportive and positive rather than dismissive of replacing human nursing care. Nurses welcomed AI in administrative and technical duties but expressed concerns about a lack of personal interaction, data privacy, and accountability. The study suggests training programs and strengthening of institutional infrastructure to ensure effective and sustainable incorporation of AI into health care without compromising the human aspect of nursing care.