Summary

Aspiring orthopedic surgeons display a positive disposition towards AI, but limited knowledge, with a notable demand for improved educational opportunities.

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the attitude and expertise of aspiring orthopedic surgeons towards artificial intelligence (AI).

Methods

An online survey was disseminated among student members of orthopedic societies in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the influence of gender, AI knowledge, and self-reported technical aptitude.

Results

Of 174 respondents, 86.2% planned to pursue a career in orthopedics and were included in the analysis. The majority (40.5%) reported basic AI literacy. No significant increase in AI literacy during medical school was observed. 35.6% believed AI would have a significant impact within 5-10 years, 29.3% within 5 years. Respondents viewed AI mostly as an assistive technology, with no notable fear of replacement. While 53.2% reported a neutral stance on AI, enthusiasm was expressed by 39.3%. A stronger focus on AI literacy in medical curricula was considered important by 82.7%. AI appeared to play a minor role in specialty selection among aspiring orthopedic surgeons, with 71.2% reporting no influence on their career choices. A statistically significant influence of self-reported technical aptitude (p=0.002) and AI literacy (p=0.017) on attitudes towards AI, but not gender, was observed.

Conclusion

Aspiring orthopedic surgeons display a positive disposition towards AI, but limited knowledge, with significant demand for improved educational opportunities. Orthopedic surgery seems to be relatively resilient regarding career choices of prospective residents.