KNOWLEDGE, UTILIZATION AND CHALLENGES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AMONG NURSES IN A TERTIARY HEALTH INSTITUTION IN EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the knowledge level, utilization, and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in emergency settings among nurses at a tertiary health institution. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design and focused on registered nurses working in the Accident and Emergency Unit, Children Emergency Unit (CHER), and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Census sampling was used to select a sample size of 100 respondents across these units, and data was collected using a structured questionnaire tailored to examine AI knowledge and applications. Analysis was performed with SPSS version 23, applying descriptive statistics like percentages and frequencies to capture and interpret trends. The results of the study revealed that only 15% and 60% demonstrated a good knowledge level and fair understanding respectively. AI tools were relatively underutilised in emergency settings with only 25% of respondents using electronic health records (EHR). Also, significant challenges reported include; inadequate training (74%), insufficient infrastructure (75%), and overwhelming learning requirements (69%). The study concluded that there was a high interest in AI among nurses, yet practical application remains limited due to insufficient training and infrastructure. The study recommends formal training among nurses by introducing AI training programs into education curricula to equip nurses with practical skills for AI applications and also, providing resource support and ensuring that systems are user-friendly. Addressing these barriers will improve AI integration within emergency healthcare. keywords: artificial intelligence, emergency nursing, knowledge and utilization, healthcare, challenges, tertiary health institution