Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria's Healthcare Sector: An Economic Assessment of Emerging Technologies

The study examines how digital transformation and artificial intelligence influence Nigeria's healthcare sector, focusing on the effect of Electronic Health Records (EHR) adoption, Telemedicine adoption, and Mobile Health Technology (MHT) adoption on Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria's healthcare sector. The study adopted the survey research design with a finite population of 2,600 ICT, health information management, and clinical/administrative staff drawn from purposively selected federal tertiary hospitals across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. The study utilized primary source of data for the purpose of data collection. Taro Yamane sample size determination formula, which calculates sample size for finite population, was used to obtain a sample size of 382 respondents. The study utilized two sampling techniques for selection of its respondents; purposive and simple random sampling. The study was analyzed using descriptive statistical tools of table, frequency, percentage and inferential statistical tools of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The study finding indicated that Electronic Health Records adoption has a positive and significant effect on Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria's healthcare sector. While Telemedicine adoption indicated a positive and insignificant effect, and Mobile Health Technology adoption indicated a negative and significant effect, on Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria's healthcare sector. The study concluded that structured and interoperable digital health data remains the most reliable foundation for Artificial Intelligence diffusion, while poorly coordinated technologies can undermine it. The study recommended that continued investment in Electronic Health Records systems, with emphasis on interoperability standards, should be prioritized to strengthen Artificial Intelligence diffusion in Nigeria's healthcare sector