Exploring the Application Capability of ChatGPT as an Instructor in Skills Education for Dental Medical Students: Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background Clinical operative skills training is a critical component of preclinical education for dental students. Although technology-assisted instruction, such as virtual reality and simulators, is increasingly being integrated, direct guidance from instructors remains the cornerstone of skill development. ChatGPT, an advanced conversational artificial intelligence model developed by OpenAI, is gradually being used in medical education. Objective This study aimed to compare the effects of ChatGPT-assisted skill learning on performance, cognitive load, self-efficacy, learning motivation, and spatial ability, with the aim of evaluating the potential of ChatGPT in clinical operative skills education. Methods In this study, 187 undergraduate dental students recruited from a first-class university in China were randomly divided into a ChatGPT group and a blank control group. Among them, the control group used videos for skill acquisition, and the ChatGPT group used ChatGPT in addition to the videos. After 1 week of intervention, skills were tested using desktop virtual reality, and cognitive load was measured by recording changes in pupil diameter with an eye tracker. In addition, a spatial ability test was administered to analyze the effect of ChatGPT on those with different spatial abilities. Finally, a questionnaire was also used to assess cognitive load and self-efficacy during the learning process. Results A total of 192 dental undergraduates from a top-tier Chinese…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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