Patient Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in Jordanian Healthcare: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into healthcare delivery, yet patient acceptance in resource constrained settings remains incompletely characterized. This study assessed attitudes toward AI supported care among patients attending hospitals in three Jordanian governorates (Amman, Balqa, Irbid) and examined demographic and digital literacy correlates of acceptance. In a cross sectional survey (n = 500 complete questionnaires), participants rated exposure to AI in healthcare and five attitudinal domains, namely perceived usefulness or performance expectancy, trust and transparency, privacy and perceived risks, empathy and human interaction, and readiness or behavioral intention, using 25 items on 5 point Likert scales. Patients expressed conditional optimism: empathy and human interaction was most strongly endorsed (M = 4.33, SD = 0.58), alongside relatively high perceived usefulness (M = 3.97, SD = 0.68), while trust and transparency (M = 3.57, SD = 0.74) and readiness (M = 3.66, SD = 0.90) were moderate to high; privacy and risk concerns were moderate (M = 3.51, SD = 0.77) and self reported exposure was lowest (M = 2.57, SD = 1.07). The highest agreement item indicated preference for AI to work alongside physicians rather than be relied on alone (M = 4.47, SD = 0.81). Trust and transparency and perceived usefulness were positively associated with readiness (r = 0.48 and r = 0.44, respectively; p <.001), while privacy and perceived risks were negatively correlated with trust and usefulness. In multivariable regression adjusting for gender, age group, education, prior AI health app or device use, and self rated digital skill, lower educational attainment (less than high school and high school) predicted reduced readiness, whereas higher digital skill predicted increased readiness (R2 = 0.101). These findings suggest that implementation strategies in Jordan should emphasize human involvement alongside AI, transparent communication and governance, and interventions that build digital confidence and reduce readiness gaps linked to education. Author summaryAI is increasingly used in healthcare, for example to support diagnosis, triage, and treatment decisions. Whether these tools are accepted by patients depends not only on how well they work, but also on whether patients trust them, understand how they are used, and feel their privacy is protected. Evidence on patient views in middle income and resource constrained settings is still limited. We surveyed 500 patients attending hospitals in three Jordanian governorates to understand how they view AI supported care. Patients generally expected AI to be useful, but they strongly preferred that clinicians remain actively involved and that AI supports rather than replaces physicians. Trust and perceived usefulness were closely linked to willingness to accept AI enabled care, while privacy concerns were present and shaped trust. Readiness to accept AI was lower among participants with lower educational attainment and higher among those with greater self rated digital skill. These findings suggest that successful implementation in Jordan should prioritize transparent communication, strong privacy safeguards, and human centered workflows, while also strengthening digital confidence to avoid widening gaps in acceptance.