DE05 Exploring the use of ChatGPT as a study tool to help develop communication skills in undergraduate dermatology education

Abstract

Undergraduate medical students often have limited opportunities to gain experience in dermatology, particularly in navigating more complex communication scenarios – due to the typically brief duration of placements. A recent scoping review has highlighted the promising potential of ChatGPT as a tool to provide innovative and effective learning experiences to medical students (Gordon M, Daniel M, Aderonke Ajiboye et al. A scoping review of artificial intelligence in medical education: BEME Guide No. 84. Med Teach 2024; 46: 446–70). This project explored ChatGPT as a supplementary method for enhancing dermatology-specific communication training, offering students a novel way to practise outside clinical placements. This study was designed to explore students’ perceptions of ChatGPT as a tool to support the development of communication skills in dermatology, and to examine current patterns of use, perceived concerns and suggestions for future applications. Five tutorials were delivered to fourth-year medical students (n = 38) during dermatology placements. In pairs, students used ChatGPT 4.0 to navigate two challenging scenarios: counselling a patient with eczema and breaking bad news about melanoma. Structured prompts provided to students guided interaction with ChatGPT on mobile devices. Pre- and postsession questionnaires were completed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data, which were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Sessions ended with a group discussion on students’ experiences and perceptions of the tool. The results showed that 71% (n = 27) of students found ChatGPT ‘moderately’ or ‘extremely’ useful for developing their communication skills in dermatology. While 74% (n = 28) reported minimal concerns, some cited issues such as accuracy, contextual relevance, ethical and environmental implications, and potential over-reliance on the tool. The findings suggest that, when used in a structured manner, ChatGPT can support communication training in dermatology. Students engaged thoughtfully with the tool, indicating its promise as a resource for digital and interdisciplinary education in health professions training.