International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognised as a strategic tool for improving healthcare decision-making and advancing sustainable development. However, in many developing countries, including Nigeria, AI adoption remains limited despite supportive policy frameworks.
Objective: This study examined how communication influences the adoption of Artificial Intelligence for sustainable healthcare decision-making in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakiliki (FETHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Method: Adopting descriptive survey research design, Cochran’s formula was used to get the sample size of 80 health professionals and administrative staff of FETHA comprising of 35 Doctors, 25 Nurses and 20 administrative staff who were sampled using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through a combination of questionnaire and online survey with a consistency coefficient of 0.81, while data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented using frequency tables and percentages. Results: There was moderate to high awareness of AI among healthcare professionals and administrative staff of FETHA which posits that the adoption of innovation is influenced by perceived relative advantages, compatibility, trainability and observability. Effective communication significantly influences trust and acceptance of AI technologies among healthcare professionals and administrative staff of FETHA in Ebonyi State. Transparent communication on data privacy ethical standards, and the role of artificial intelligence in clinical decision making was perceived as essential for building confidence.
Conclusion: This study concludes that communication is a critical determinant of AI adoption in Ebonyi State’s healthcare sector. While AI offers significant potential for improving sustainable decision-making, its effectiveness depends largely on how well its benefits, risks, and ethical safeguards are communicated.
Unique Contribution: This study has offered new insight into the increasing influence of communication on AI adoption for sustainable decision. Without deliberate communication strategies including training, participatory dialogue, and ethical transparency AI adoption may remain limited despite policy support. Hopefully, policymakers, healthcare practitioners, and communication experts will find this fresh insight useful in planning more effective communication flow, strong stakeholder engagement and sufficient information dissemination mechanisms on AI adoption in health institutions in Ebonyi State. This will enable Ebonyi State and Nigeria as a whole to harness AI's full potential for sustainable healthcare decision-making.
Key Recommendation: Ebonyi State Healthcare Institution should develop clear, transparent and consistent communication strategies that will explain purpose and benefit of AI technologies. Regular training programmes, workshop and professional development initiative should be organized to improve healthcare professionals and administrative staff’s understanding and use of AI system. Communication frameworks should be incorporated into state and institutional health policies to ensure sustainable AI adoption.