ChatGPT in research and health professions education: challenges, opportunities, and future directions

Postgrad Med J. 2023 Dec 21;100(1179):50-55. doi: 10.1093/postmj/qgad090.

Abstract

ChatGPT was launched by OpenAI in November 2022 and within 2 months it became popular across a wide range of industrial, social, and intellectual contexts including healthcare education. This article reviews the impact of ChatGPT on research and health professions education by identifying the challenges and opportunities in these fields. Additionally, it aims to provide future directions to mitigate the challenges and maximize the benefits of this technology in health professions education. ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the field of research and health professions education. However, there is a need to address ethical concerns and limitations such as lack of real-time data, data inaccuracies, biases, plagiarism, and copyright infringement before its implementation. Future research can highlight the ways to mitigate these challenges; establish guidelines and policies; and explore how effectively ChatGPT and other AI tools can be used in the field of research and healthcare professions education.

Keywords: ChatGPT; academic research; artificial intelligence; health professions education; teaching and learning.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Educational Status
  • Health Occupations*
  • Humans
  • Technology*