IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i14p6546-d1703982.html

Perceptions, Ethical Challenges and Sustainable Integration of Generative AI in Health Science Education: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Mirko Prosen

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia)

  • Sabina Ličen

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia)

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is changing higher education. Understanding students’ perceptions, usage behaviour and ethical concerns is crucial for the responsible and sustainable use of AI in the academic environment. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions, experiences and challenges of health sciences students in relation to the use of generative AI in their academic learning. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 397 students enrolled in four undergraduate health-related degree programmes in Slovenia, including nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics and applied kinesiology. The data was collected using a validated 27-point scale. Students were generally favourable towards AI, especially in terms of its perceived usefulness, integration into their daily study routine and ethical considerations. Regression analyses revealed that frequency of AI use, duration of use, self-reported skill level and confidence in using AI significantly predicted perceived usefulness. Gender differences were found, with male students reporting higher perceived usefulness and fewer concerns. Students recognised the potential of generative AI but emphasised the importance of ethical guidance, digital literacy and equal access. Institutions should prioritise structured training and inclusive strategies to ensure meaningful, sustainable and responsible integration of AI into health education.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirko Prosen & Sabina Ličen, 2025. "Perceptions, Ethical Challenges and Sustainable Integration of Generative AI in Health Science Education: A Cross-Sectional Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6546-:d:1703982
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6546/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6546/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Schilke, Oliver & Reimann, Martin, 2025. "The transparency dilemma: How AI disclosure erodes trust," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Andersen, Jens Peter & Degn, Lise & Fishberg, Rachel & Graversen, Ebbe K. & Horbach, Serge P.J.M. & Schmidt, Evanthia Kalpazidou & Schneider, Jesper W. & Sørensen, Mads P., 2025. "Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in the research process – A survey of researchers’ practices and perceptions," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liu, Yiming & Wang, Tianhong, 2025. "Treating differently or equally: A study exploring attitudes towards AI moral advisors," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    2. Njuguna, Gerald Nderitu & Qingfei, Min, 2026. "How would prompt completion editing impact user experience scores in academic research with large language models?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    3. Deng, Ruolan & Ahmed, Saifuddin, 2025. "Perceptions and paradigms: An analysis of AI framing in trending social media news," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Jean-Pierre Dubé & Ariel Xu, 2026. "Large Language Models and Creative Content Design: a case study of email marketing at Wine Access," Quantitative Marketing and Economics (QME), Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 1-28, December.
    5. He, Hao & Bai, Shizhen & Han, Chunjia & Yang, Mu & Fan, Weijia & Gupta, Brij B., 2025. "Beyond simple interaction: Uncovering the perception-interaction intrinsic mechanism of generative AI agents—A multi-modal big data analysis with PLS-SEM and fsQCA," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    6. Suárez, David & García-Mariñoso, Begoña, 2025. "On the verge of a digital divide in the use of generative AI?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6546-:d:1703982. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.