Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness to Use Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Health Recommendations Among Undergraduate Health Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into healthcare, with uses including personalized health recommendations. Understanding the knowledge, perceptions, and willingness of future healthcare professionals to engage with AI is essential for supporting its effective adoption. This study examined the knowledge, perception, and willingness to use AI among undergraduate students in the health colleges at King Faisal University. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, including 417 undergraduate students from 5 health colleges. A structured electronic questionnaire was used to assess students' knowledge of AI, their perception of its use in healthcare, and their willingness to use AI-based personalized health recommendations. Associations between variables were evaluated using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 417 participants, 67.87% had a high level of knowledge about AI, 57.07% had a positive perception, and 74.82% reported willingness to use AI for personalized health recommendations. Logistic regression analysis showed that students with high knowledge were more likely to be willing to use AI (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.647; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.204-6.036; p < 0.001). A positive perception also significantly predicted willingness (AOR = 5.442; 95% CI: 3.248-9.118; p < 0.001). Age and gender were not significant predictors. Conclusion Undergraduate health science students demonstrated a high level of knowledge, positive perceptions, and a high willingness to use AI for personalized health recommendations. Knowledge and perception were significant factors associated with willingness, emphasizing the importance of integrating AI-related education into health-science curricula to support digital transformation in healthcare.