Research Article

How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students' AI Competence – A Path Analysis

Volume: 17 Number: 2 May 31, 2026
EN TR

How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students' AI Competence – A Path Analysis

Abstract

This study conducted a path analysis to examine the impact of several related variables on artificial intelligence (AI) user competence. The participants included 310 nursing students from a single nursing school in Turkey. Hypothetical paths were established to assess the influence of medical artificial intelligence readiness, AI-related anxiety, and both positive and negative attitudes toward AI on AI competence. Positive attitudes toward AI and medical AI readiness had significant effects on AI competence. Additionally, both positive and negative attitudes toward AI had a significant negative effect on AI-related anxiety; however, the total, direct, and indirect effects of anxiety on AI competence were not significant. The model explained 33.5% of the variance in AI user competence. AI-focused interventions, along with the creation of a supportive learning environment for nursing students during their practicum, may be key strategies to enhance their AI competence.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Bartın University Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee. Ethical approval was granted at the committee meeting held on 11 December 2023 (Meeting No: 20, Decision No: 1), under Protocol No: 2023-SBB-0811. Participation in the study was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Confidentiality and anonymity of the participants were ensured throughout the study.

References

  1. Abou Hashish, E. A., & Alnajjar, H. (2024). Digital proficiency: Assessing knowledge, attitudes, and skills in digital transformation, health literacy, and artificial intelligence among university nursing students. BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 508. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05482-3
  2. Albino, M. G., Albino, F. S., Asio, J. M. R., & Gadia, E. D. (2025). Influence of AI anxiety on AI self-efficacy among college students. International Journal of Technology in Education, 8(2), 557–573. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.1109
  3. Almatrafi, O., Johri, A., & Lee, H. (2024). A systematic review of AI literacy conceptualization, constructs, and implementation and assessment efforts (2019–2023). Computers and Education Open, 100173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2024.100173
  4. AlZaabi, A., & Masters, K. (2025). Assessing medical students' readiness for artificial intelligence after pre-clinical training. BMC Medical Education, 25(1), 824. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07008-x
  5. Amin, S. M., El-Fattah Mahgoub, S. A., Tawfik, A. F., Khalil, D. E., El-Sayed, A. A. I., Atta, M. H. R., Albzia, A., & Morsy Mohamed, S. R. (2025). Nursing education in the digital era: The role of digital competence in enhancing academic motivation and lifelong learning among nursing students. BMC Nursing, 24(1), 571. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03199-2
  6. Asio, J. M. R., & Suero, A. N. (2024). Artificial intelligence anxiety, self-efficacy, and self-competence among students: Implications to higher education institutions. Education Policy and Development, 2(2), 82–93. https://doi.org/10.31098/epd.v2i2.2541
  7. Chen, C., Hu, W., & Wei, X. (2025). From anxiety to action: Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence anxiety and artificial intelligence self-efficacy on motivated learning of undergraduate students. Interactive Learning Environments, 33(4), 3162–3177. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2024.2440877
  8. Chen, S. (2024). Nursing education in the era of generative artificial intelligence: Are we ready? Hu Li Za Zhi, 71(5), 4–6. https://doi.org/10.6224/JN.202410_71(5).01

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Artificial Intelligence (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 31, 2026

Submission Date

August 6, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: 2

APA
Büyüktopaç Çakıcı, H., & Dolu, İ. (2026). How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis. AJIT-E: Academic Journal of Information Technology, 17(2), 164-180. https://izlik.org/JA95RK83SS
AMA
1.Büyüktopaç Çakıcı H, Dolu İ. How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis. AJIT-e: Academic Journal of Information Technology. 2026;17(2):164-180. https://izlik.org/JA95RK83SS
Chicago
Büyüktopaç Çakıcı, Hilal, and İlknur Dolu. 2026. “How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis”. AJIT-E: Academic Journal of Information Technology 17 (2): 164-80. https://izlik.org/JA95RK83SS.
EndNote
Büyüktopaç Çakıcı H, Dolu İ (May 1, 2026) How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis. AJIT-e: Academic Journal of Information Technology 17 2 164–180.
IEEE
[1]H. Büyüktopaç Çakıcı and İ. Dolu, “How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis”, AJIT-e: Academic Journal of Information Technology, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 164–180, May 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA95RK83SS
ISNAD
Büyüktopaç Çakıcı, Hilal - Dolu, İlknur. “How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis”. AJIT-e: Academic Journal of Information Technology 17/2 (May 1, 2026): 164-180. https://izlik.org/JA95RK83SS.
JAMA
1.Büyüktopaç Çakıcı H, Dolu İ. How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis. AJIT-e: Academic Journal of Information Technology. 2026;17:164–180.
MLA
Büyüktopaç Çakıcı, Hilal, and İlknur Dolu. “How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis”. AJIT-E: Academic Journal of Information Technology, vol. 17, no. 2, May 2026, pp. 164-80, https://izlik.org/JA95RK83SS.
Vancouver
1.Hilal Büyüktopaç Çakıcı, İlknur Dolu. How Medical AI Readiness, Anxiety, and Attitudes Shape Nursing Students’ AI Competence – A Path Analysis. AJIT-e: Academic Journal of Information Technology [Internet]. 2026 May 1;17(2):164-80. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA95RK83SS