The growing integration of artificial intelligence and robotics has transformed healthcare operations and patient care. However, access to autonomous systems does not automatically enhance the digital competence of healthcare workers, creating a critical knowledge gap. This study examined the effect of availability and active use of autonomous systems on ICT literacy among healthcare workers in Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Nigeria. A quantitative descriptive survey design was adopted, and 158 healthcare workers were selected from public and private hospitals using proportional stratified sampling. Data were collected via a validated Google Form questionnaire, and instrument reliability was established using Cronbach’s Alpha. Descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression were used for analysis. Results revealed low mean scores for availability (M = 1.86) and use (M = 1.88) of autonomous systems in public hospitals. Regression findings showed that availability and use significantly predicted ICT literacy, explaining 58.1% of its variance (R² = 0.581, p < 0.05). These findings imply that access alone is insufficient; active utilization and training are essential to improve digital competency. The study concludes by recommending targeted policies that promote not only provision but effective adoption of autonomous technologies to build a digitally skilled healthcare workforce.

This study concluded that the availability and use of autonomous systems were significant predictors of ICT literacy among health workers. However, despite their potential, both the availability and actual utilization of these technologies remained low, especially in public healthcare institutions. The implication was that for ICT literacy to improve among health workers, stakeholders must ensure not only that autonomous systems are provided but also that health workers are trained and encouraged to use them effectively. The study further confirmed a bidirectional relationship where increased availability can foster digital literacy, and enhanced literacy can, in turn, promote more meaningful use of digital tools. The findings aligned with prior research suggesting that technology alone is insufficient unless accompanied by adequate training, support, and a conducive working environment. Further studies can be comparative studies on the healthcare workers of two or more states in the same or different geo-political zones in Nigeria so as to reveal the extent and variation in the use and availability of autonomous systems, and their relationship with ICT literacy among health workers in Nigeria. Equally, the instrument used in this study was questionnaire, further studies can use both questionnaire and focus group discussion so that various opinions and perspectives of the health workers can be captured. In addition, a larger sample of the population should be used in future researches so that more responses can be captured and used to get a clearer picture and further contributions to the study. Moreover, further studies should examine specific types of autonomous systems and their individual contributions to ICT literacy development among healthcare workers, and lastly, investigations could focus on the cost-benefit analysis of deploying autonomous systems in public hospitals, especially in resource-constrained settings.

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