Objective:

To investigate the relationship between AI literacy and empathic behavior among nursing interns, considering the roles of moral distress and resilience.

Approach:

• Study Design: A cross-sectional investigation involving 300 nursing interns at three tertiary hospitals in China.
• Data Collection: Validated scales measured AI literacy and empathic behavior, with moral distress and resilience as covariates.
• Statistical Analysis: Multivariable linear regression, restricted cubic spline analyses, and subgroup analyses were conducted.

Key Findings:

• Greater AI literacy was significantly associated with higher empathic behavior (β = 4.40; 95% CI, 3.86–4.95; P <.001).
• The association remained significant after full adjustment (β = 4.31; 95% CI, 3.40–5.23; P <.001).
• No evidence of nonlinearity was found in the relationship between AI literacy and empathic behavior (P for nonlinearity =.886).

Interpretation:

Higher AI literacy among nursing interns is statistically associated with greater empathic behavior, suggesting a potential link that warrants further investigation.

Limitations:

• The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences.
• The sample was limited to nursing interns in China, which may affect generalizability.

Conclusion:

Longitudinal and intervention research is needed to establish temporal and causal relationships between AI literacy and empathic behavior.