Evaluating the understanding of the ethical and moral challenges of Big Data and AI among Jordanian medical students, physicians in training, and senior practitioners: a cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To examine the understanding of the ethical dilemmas associated with Big Data and artificial intelligence (AI) among Jordanian medical students, physicians in training, and senior practitioners. METHODS: We implemented a literature-validated questionnaire to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the target population during the period between April and August 2023. Themes of ethical debate included privacy breaches, consent, ownership, augmented biases, epistemology, and accountability. Participants' responses were showcased using descriptive statistics and compared between groups using t-test or ANOVA. RESULTS: We included 466 participants. The greater majority of respondents were interns and residents (50.2%), followed by medical students (38.0%). Most participants were affiliated with university institutions (62.4%). In terms of privacy, participants acknowledged that Big Data and AI were susceptible to privacy breaches (39.3%); however, 59.0% found such breaches justifiable under certain conditions. For ethical debacles involving informed consent, 41.6% and 44.6% were aware that obtaining informed consent posed an ethical limitation in Big Data and AI applications and denounced the concept of "broad consent", respectively. In terms of ownership, 49.6% acknowledged that data cannot be owned yet accepted that institutions could hold a quasi-control of such data (59.0%). Less than 50% of participants were aware of Big Data and AI's abilities to augment or create new biases in healthcare. Furthermore, participants agreed that researchers, institutions, and legislative bodies were responsible for ensuring the ethical implementation of Big Data and AI. Finally, while demonstrating limited experience with using such technology, participants generally had positive views of the role of Big Data and AI in complementing healthcare. CONCLUSION: Jordanian medical students, physicians in training and senior practitioners have limited awareness of the ethical risks associated with Big Data and AI. Institutions are responsible for raising awareness, especially with the upsurge of such technology.

Role of Arthrodiastasis Using Hinged Monolateral External Fixator Without Soft Tissue Release in Advanced Stage of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease.

PURPOSE: Presentation with the advanced stage of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD) carries a poor prognosis, regardless of the treatment that the patient receives. The aims of this study are to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of arthrodiastasis in advanced cases of LCPD using a hinged monolateral external fixator without soft tissue release and to raise safety issues regarding its low rate of complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients with LCPD who were classified as lateral pillar types B and C and were operated on in our department were included in this retrospective study. Data collected from medical files and X-ray measurements were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of six male patients were included in this analysis. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 8.5 years (range 7-10 years). The mean follow-up period was 46 months (range 40-50 months). Five cases were Herring C and one case was Herring B at presentation. The average distraction time was 8 days (range 7-9) and the average duration of external fixator application was 3.1 months (range 2.5-3.5 months). The range of motion of the hip in flexion, abduction and internal rotation were improved postoperatively. Pain score and limping were also improved. At the final follow-up, the mean sphericity deviation score was 10.6. The mean epiphyseal index was improved from 19.3% to 23.8%. In addition, the mean cervical index improved from 99.7% to 89.7% at the last follow-up. Femoral fractures, pin loosening, mechanical failure of the fixator, chondrodiastasis, and hip subluxation were not seen in this group of patients. CONCLUSION: Arthrodiastasis with a hinged monolateral external fixator without soft tissue release improved both the clinical and radiological outcomes in this group of patients.