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. 2023 Oct 5;18(10):e0292216.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292216. eCollection 2023.

An exploratory survey about using ChatGPT in education, healthcare, and research

Mohammad Hosseini  1 , Catherine A Gao  2 , David M Liebovitz  3   4 , Alexandre M Carvalho  5   6 , Faraz S Ahmad  1   7   8 , Yuan Luo  1 , Ngan MacDonald  9 , Kristi L Holmes  1   9   10 , Abel Kho  3   9
Affiliations

An exploratory survey about using ChatGPT in education, healthcare, and research

Mohammad Hosseini et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: ChatGPT is the first large language model (LLM) to reach a large, mainstream audience. Its rapid adoption and exploration by the population at large has sparked a wide range of discussions regarding its acceptable and optimal integration in different areas. In a hybrid (virtual and in-person) panel discussion event, we examined various perspectives regarding the use of ChatGPT in education, research, and healthcare.

Materials and methods: We surveyed in-person and online attendees using an audience interaction platform (Slido). We quantitatively analyzed received responses on questions about the use of ChatGPT in various contexts. We compared pairwise categorical groups with a Fisher's Exact. Furthermore, we used qualitative methods to analyze and code discussions.

Results: We received 420 responses from an estimated 844 participants (response rate 49.7%). Only 40% of the audience had tried ChatGPT. More trainees had tried ChatGPT compared with faculty. Those who had used ChatGPT were more interested in using it in a wider range of contexts going forwards. Of the three discussed contexts, the greatest uncertainty was shown about using ChatGPT in education. Pros and cons were raised during discussion for the use of this technology in education, research, and healthcare.

Discussion: There was a range of perspectives around the uses of ChatGPT in education, research, and healthcare, with still much uncertainty around its acceptability and optimal uses. There were different perspectives from respondents of different roles (trainee vs faculty vs staff). More discussion is needed to explore perceptions around the use of LLMs such as ChatGPT in vital sectors such as education, healthcare and research. Given involved risks and unforeseen challenges, taking a thoughtful and measured approach in adoption would reduce the likelihood of harm.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicting interests.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Interest in using ChatGPT as broken down by previous usage.
There was greater interest going forwards among those who had already tried ChatGPT compared to those who had not.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Use of ChatGPT in healthcare, by respondent role.
Breakdown of proportions of answers when asking about ChatGPT use in Healthcare, as split by respondent’s role. Students had higher acceptability of ChatGPT’s use than faculty and staff.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Acceptability of ChatGPT use.
Comparison of binarized responses in use of ChatGPT for education, healthcare, and research, broken down by previous use of ChatGPT.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Keyword responses.
(A) Respondent keywords to describe the most important risk of using ChatGPT (n = 225). (B) Respondent keywords to describe the most important benefit of using ChatGPT (n = 263).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Update of

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