Research Article
Evaluating the Readiness of Health Information Management Professionals for AI Integration in Healthcare Systems in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Kurokeyi Ebimene Japheth Teddy*
,
Victor Ayebanengimote
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
219-233
Received:
9 August 2026
Accepted:
20 August 2026
Published:
22 September 2026
Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare delivery globally. But existing literature on the extent of AI computer literacy among respectively physicians in Nigeria as an evidence of its level of integration into healthcare is insufficient. This study was designed to evaluate the level of AI awareness and knowledge, digital competence, organizational readiness, professional development, and AI preparedness of healthcare provider (HIM professionals’) towards healthcare integration in Bayelsa State. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The study population comprised 332 members of AHRIMPN Bayelsa chapter WhattsApp platform. From which 205 turned out to be the respondents and were analyzed with the use of structured 36-item self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Cronbach‘s alpha reliability analysis, Spearman‘s rank correlation, Mann Whitney U test, exploratory factor analysis, relative importance analysis, and multivariable regression at 5% significance level. The results showed moderate AI knowledge and awareness (3.052±0.116), digital competence (2.923±0.100), organizational readiness (3.141±0.124), professional development (3.143± 0.158) and AI readiness for healthcare integration (3.115±0.101). The instrument possessed Cronbach‘s α of 0.760 0.887 while Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin of 0.820 and significant Bartlett‘s Test of 19.155, P value = 0.000 validated the data for factor analysis. There were strong positive relationships between AI knowledge, digital competence and organizational readiness. But multivariable regression analysis revealed none of the observed four explanatory variables individually and significantly predicted AI readiness (p > 0.05). Respondents who had previous AI/digital health training had significantly better reported knowledge, digital competence, organizational readiness and professional development than those who did not have such training. The study revealed moderate AI readiness among healthcare professionals into AI-enabled health systems, though lack of the requisite AI skills and lack of standardized, continuous and obligatory AI capacity building interventions as well as poor investment in digital technology, robustness of organization, and health institution-related variations in knowledge, digital competence, organizational readiness and professional development are impeding AI integration into healthcare. The study concludes that continuous AI capacity development programmes, digital infrastructure investment, organizational autonomy and investment, and well-articulated AI curriculum into practitioner education, healthcare professional professional development programmes and organization-related accreditation are indispensable to successful, affordable and sustainable AI-enabled health systems.
Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare delivery globally. But existing literature on the extent of AI computer literacy among respectively physicians in Nigeria as an evidence of its level of integration into healthcare is insufficient. This study was designed to evaluate the level of AI awareness and knowledge, digital competen...
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Research Article
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Social Media Addiction Among Medical and Allied Science Students of Purbanchal University, Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
234-241
Received:
17 August 2026
Accepted:
7 September 2026
Published:
24 September 2026
Abstract: Social media addiction (SMA) is an increasingly recognized problem among university students worldwide, with limited data available from Nepal. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of SMA and its associated socio-demographic and behavioural factors among Medical and Allied Science students of Purbanchal University. It was conducted between June and November 2019 among 422 students purposively sampled from four colleges affiliated to Purbanchal University, using a pre-tested, self-administered structured questionnaire comprising 15 socio-demographic items and 8 items on internet/social media use; SMA was operationally defined as social media use exceeding 3 hours per day, and data were analyzed in SPSS v20 using frequencies, percentages, and the chi-square test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Of the 422 respondents, 96.2% used social media accounts and 33.9% met criteria for SMA. Facebook was the most used platform (31.4%) and Twitter the least used (7.5%). The majority (78.9%) had used social media for 3 years or more, and the commonest reason for use was to stay connected with people (55.5%). SMA was significantly associated with receiving pocket money from parents (p=0.019), having an internet connection at home (p=0.003), possessing a social media account (p=0.043), duration of social media use (p<0.001), and use of Google (p=0.030), while no significant association was found with age, sex, religion, ethnicity, family type, parental education/occupation, marital status, employment status, or perceived family relationship. Overall, approximately one in three Medical and Allied Science students at Purbanchal University showed features of social media addiction, with home internet access, pocket money, longer duration of use, and account ownership emerging as the principal correlates; targeted awareness programmes and campus-level policy measures are recommended to address this emerging public health concern.
Abstract: Social media addiction (SMA) is an increasingly recognized problem among university students worldwide, with limited data available from Nepal. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of SMA and its associated socio-demographic and behavioural factors among Medical and Allied Science students of Purbanchal Universit...
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