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Clinical teaching with a chatbot as a teaching assistant

Students observe a preliminary examination of a patient who is about to undergo treatment and use ChatGPT as a teaching assistant to make a diagnosis and suggest treatment.  

Motivation

  • Questions the students ask in class are often simple and very similar questions. It can be very time-consuming for the teacher to answer all questions, and this may result in the teacher being unavailable to the students.  
  • By using ChatGPT, students get high-quality answers that combine knowledge about medicinal products, disorders and forms of treatment. In addition, the teacher is relieved of some work. 

 


Video about the course 'Chatbot as a teaching assistant' with Jan Wolff

      

Learning objectives

  • To understand the interaction between different medicinal products, disorders and forms of treatment. 

Execution

THE PROCESS

In plenum

Initial introduction:

The teacher introduces the students to ChatGPT and discusses use of the chatbot in a clinical context with them, including:

  • How to formulate a good question so that you get the information you need. 
  • How to verify the information you receive. 

    

Outpatient treatment:

Two students have an initial conversation with a patient prior to treatment in the outpatient clinic. The rest of the class are present at the conversation. A number of medical history questions concerning the patient's health are asked during the conversation. 

Individual

Individual reflection with ChatGPT

At the same time, the students present at the conversation work on the patient treatment and prepare their own suggestions for diagnosis and treatment. They use ChatGPT to ask clarifying questions such as:

  • What is the interference between antibiotics and pain killers? And how does this affect a patient with a specific disorder? 
  • How does the nervous system work in a specific area of the mouth? 

In plenum

After the preliminary examination, the teacher and the students together go over the patient's diagnosis and treatment.  

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

Reflections

Outcomes:

  • The students had a positive experience using ChatGPT as a work of reference.

Challenges:

  • ChatGPT builds on data up to only 2021.   

  • It is necessary to verify that answers from ChatGPT are applicable in the current circumstances. 

Advice for other educators:

  • It is important that students are trained in how to use ChatGPT as a reference in a clinical context, as well as in its limitations. 


Basic information

Educator Jan Wolff 
Faculty and department Health: Department of Dentistry and Oral Health 
Degree programme Odontology
Level of study Bachelor's
Course/subject Practical dentistry and oral surgery 
Number of students 40 students
Extent Teaching activity
Teaching format Clinical teaching 

Contact

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