Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptions
Abstract Background ChatGPT, a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022, has generated both excitement and concern within the healthcare education, research, and practice communities. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate medical student...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06731-9 |
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| author | Ahmed Samir Abdelhafiz Maysa I. Farghly Eman Anwar Sultan Moaz Elsayed Abouelmagd Youssef Ashmawy Eman Hany Elsebaie |
| author_facet | Ahmed Samir Abdelhafiz Maysa I. Farghly Eman Anwar Sultan Moaz Elsayed Abouelmagd Youssef Ashmawy Eman Hany Elsebaie |
| author_sort | Ahmed Samir Abdelhafiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background ChatGPT, a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022, has generated both excitement and concern within the healthcare education, research, and practice communities. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate medical students regarding the use of ChatGPT and similar chatbots in their academic work. Methods An anonymous, structured questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and administered to medical students as part of a cross-sectional study. The survey targeted undergraduate medical students from four governorates in Egypt. The questionnaire link was distributed through social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp. The survey comprised four sections: socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions, attitudes, and practices. Results The survey achieved a response rate of 96%, with 614 out of 640 approached students participating. Prior to the study, most respondents (78.5%) had personal experience using it. Overall, respondents demonstrated positive perceptions, attitudes, and practices toward ChatGPT, with mean scores exceeding 3 for all three variables: 3.99 ± 0.60 for perceptions, 3.01 ± 0.46 for attitudes, and 3.55 ± 0.55 for practices. In general, the students exhibited a high degree of trust in the model, with approximately half trusting the accuracy and reliability of the information provided by ChatGPT. However, more than two-thirds expressed apprehension about its potential misuse in medical education, and around 60% were concerned about the accuracy of information ChatGPT might generate on complex medical topics. Conclusions Medical students show strong interest and trust in using ChatGPT and similar chatbots for academic purposes but have concerns about the reliability of the information and potential misuse in medical education. The use of AI tools should follow ethical guidelines set by academic institutions, with regular updates to keep pace with technological progress. Future research should focus on the impact of AI on education and personal development, especially among young people. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1cfb3c87f26c485e811945d61649c607 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-1cfb3c87f26c485e811945d61649c6072025-02-09T12:42:23ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-02-012511810.1186/s12909-025-06731-9Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptionsAhmed Samir Abdelhafiz0Maysa I. Farghly1Eman Anwar Sultan2Moaz Elsayed Abouelmagd3Youssef Ashmawy4Eman Hany Elsebaie5Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityAbstract Background ChatGPT, a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022, has generated both excitement and concern within the healthcare education, research, and practice communities. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate medical students regarding the use of ChatGPT and similar chatbots in their academic work. Methods An anonymous, structured questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and administered to medical students as part of a cross-sectional study. The survey targeted undergraduate medical students from four governorates in Egypt. The questionnaire link was distributed through social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp. The survey comprised four sections: socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions, attitudes, and practices. Results The survey achieved a response rate of 96%, with 614 out of 640 approached students participating. Prior to the study, most respondents (78.5%) had personal experience using it. Overall, respondents demonstrated positive perceptions, attitudes, and practices toward ChatGPT, with mean scores exceeding 3 for all three variables: 3.99 ± 0.60 for perceptions, 3.01 ± 0.46 for attitudes, and 3.55 ± 0.55 for practices. In general, the students exhibited a high degree of trust in the model, with approximately half trusting the accuracy and reliability of the information provided by ChatGPT. However, more than two-thirds expressed apprehension about its potential misuse in medical education, and around 60% were concerned about the accuracy of information ChatGPT might generate on complex medical topics. Conclusions Medical students show strong interest and trust in using ChatGPT and similar chatbots for academic purposes but have concerns about the reliability of the information and potential misuse in medical education. The use of AI tools should follow ethical guidelines set by academic institutions, with regular updates to keep pace with technological progress. Future research should focus on the impact of AI on education and personal development, especially among young people.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06731-9ChatGPTMedical studentsAIKnowledgePerceptionsPractices |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Samir Abdelhafiz Maysa I. Farghly Eman Anwar Sultan Moaz Elsayed Abouelmagd Youssef Ashmawy Eman Hany Elsebaie Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptions BMC Medical Education ChatGPT Medical students AI Knowledge Perceptions Practices |
| title | Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptions |
| title_full | Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptions |
| title_fullStr | Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptions |
| title_short | Medical students and ChatGPT: analyzing attitudes, practices, and academic perceptions |
| title_sort | medical students and chatgpt analyzing attitudes practices and academic perceptions |
| topic | ChatGPT Medical students AI Knowledge Perceptions Practices |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06731-9 |
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