TITLE:
Artificial Intelligence Readiness among Healthcare Professionals in Kenyan Urology: Acceptance, Perceived Applications, and Barriers
AUTHORS:
Simo Alastair Mope, Jude Moutchia, Gima Graham Nguti, James Ikol Adung’o, Francis Abiga Owillah
KEYWORDS:
Artificial Intelligence, Urology, Technology Acceptance, Healthcare Professionals, Kenya
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Urology,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
18,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied in urology, yet clinician readiness for its adoption in Kenya remains unclear. This study assessed healthcare professionals’ readiness to adopt AI in urological practice in Kenya by evaluating acceptance, perceived applications, and barriers to implementation. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare professionals involved in urological care in public and private facilities across eight Kenyan counties. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. A pre-tested online questionnaire assessed AI readiness, attitudes, trust, perceived applications, and implementation barriers. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Fifty healthcare professionals participated, including urologists (40%), residents (24%), and nurses (24%), predominantly from public/teaching and urban facilities. Overall, 80% expressed positive attitudes toward AI, while 74% believed it could improve urological care. Prior exposure to AI-based tools was associated with higher AI acceptance scores. Trust in AI was largely conditional on clinician oversight, with 86% favoring clinician-supervised systems and only 2% trusting fully autonomous AI. Perceived applications included improved diagnostic accuracy (50%), reduced clinician workload (48%), and faster clinical decision-making (42%). Major barriers were limited AI training (72%), inadequate infrastructure (38%), and implementation costs (36%). Most respondents anticipated AI adoption in urological practice within the next decade. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals in Kenya demonstrate high acceptance of artificial intelligence in urology, particularly when used under clinician supervision. However, addressing gaps in training, infrastructure, and cost will be essential for effective and sustainable integration into clinical practice.