Perceptions and Earliest Experiences of Medical Students and Faculty With ChatGPT in Medical Education: Qualitative Study

doi:10.2196/63400

. 2025 Feb 20:11:e63400.

doi: 10.2196/63400.

Perceptions and Earliest Experiences of Medical Students and Faculty With ChatGPT in Medical Education: Qualitative Study

Noura Abouammoh^{1

2}, Khalid Alhasan^{1

3

4}, Fadi Aljamaan^{1

5}, Rupesh Raina⁶, Khalid H Malki^{1

7}, Ibraheem Altamimi¹, Ruaim Muaygil^{1

8}, Hayfaa Wahabi^{2

9}, Amr Jamal^{1

2

9}, Ali Alhaboob^{1

3}, Rasha Assad Assiri¹⁰, Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq^{11

12

13}, Ayman Al-Eyadhy^{1

3}, Mona Soliman^{1

8}, Mohamad-Hani Temsah^{1

3

9}

Affiliations

¹ College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant, Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Critical Care Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Nephrology, Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Akron Children Hospital, Akron, OH, United States.
⁷ Research Chair of Voice, Swallowing, and Communication Disorders, Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Medical Education Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Evidence-Based Health Care & Knowledge Translation Research Chair, Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁰ Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹¹ Specialty Internal Medicine and Quality Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
¹² Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
¹³ Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.

PMID: 39977012
PMCID: PMC11888024
DOI: 10.2196/63400

Perceptions and Earliest Experiences of Medical Students and Faculty With ChatGPT in Medical Education: Qualitative Study

Noura Abouammoh et al. JMIR Med Educ. 2025.

. 2025 Feb 20:11:e63400.

doi: 10.2196/63400.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant, Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Critical Care Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Nephrology, Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Akron Children Hospital, Akron, OH, United States.
⁷ Research Chair of Voice, Swallowing, and Communication Disorders, Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Medical Education Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Evidence-Based Health Care & Knowledge Translation Research Chair, Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁰ Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹¹ Specialty Internal Medicine and Quality Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
¹² Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
¹³ Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.

PMID: 39977012
PMCID: PMC11888024
DOI: 10.2196/63400

Abstract

Background: With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies, there is a growing interest in the potential use of artificial intelligence-based tools like ChatGPT in medical education. However, there is limited research on the initial perceptions and experiences of faculty and students with ChatGPT, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the earliest knowledge, perceived benefits, concerns, and limitations of using ChatGPT in medical education among faculty and students at a leading Saudi Arabian university.

Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in April 2023, involving focused meetings with medical faculty and students with varying levels of ChatGPT experience. A thematic analysis was used to identify key themes and subthemes emerging from the discussions.

Results: Participants demonstrated good knowledge of ChatGPT and its functions. The main themes were perceptions of ChatGPT use, potential benefits, and concerns about ChatGPT in research and medical education. The perceived benefits included collecting and summarizing information and saving time and effort. However, concerns and limitations centered around the potential lack of critical thinking in the information provided, the ambiguity of references, limitations of access, trust in the output of ChatGPT, and ethical concerns.

Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the perceptions and experiences of medical faculty and students regarding the use of newly introduced large language models like ChatGPT in medical education. While the benefits of ChatGPT were recognized, participants also expressed concerns and limitations requiring further studies for effective integration into medical education, exploring the impact of ChatGPT on learning outcomes, student and faculty satisfaction, and the development of critical thinking skills.

Keywords: AI; AI-based tools; ChatGPT; Saudi Arabia; artificial intelligence; chatbot; faculty; knowledge; learning; medical education; medical students; perceptions; qualitative study; satisfaction; thematic analysis; universities.

©Noura Abouammoh, Khalid Alhasan, Fadi Aljamaan, Rupesh Raina, Khalid H Malki, Ibraheem Altamimi, Ruaim Muaygil, Hayfaa Wahabi, Amr Jamal, Ali Alhaboob, Rasha Assad Assiri, Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq, Ayman Al-Eyadhy, Mona Soliman, Mohamad-Hani Temsah. Originally published in JMIR Medical Education (https://mededu.jmir.org), 20.02.2025.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Thematic framework of participants’ perception on using ChatGPT.

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[1] Fazlollahi AM, Bakhaidar M, Alsayegh A, Yilmaz R, Winkler-Schwartz A, Mirchi N, Langleben I, Ledwos N, Sabbagh AJ, Bajunaid K, Harley JM, Del Maestro RF. Effect of artificial intelligence tutoring vs expert instruction on learning simulated surgical skills among medical students: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2):e2149008. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.49008. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/35191972 2789268 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Fazlollahi AM, Bakhaidar M, Alsayegh A, Yilmaz R, Winkler-Schwartz A, Mirchi N, Langleben I, Ledwos N, Sabbagh AJ, Bajunaid K, Harley JM, Del Maestro RF. Effect of artificial intelligence tutoring vs expert instruction on learning simulated surgical skills among medical students: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2):e2149008. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.49008. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/35191972 2789268 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Fazlollahi AM, Yilmaz R, Winkler-Schwartz A, Mirchi N, Ledwos N, Bakhaidar M, Alsayegh A, Del Maestro RF. AI in surgical curriculum design and unintended outcomes for technical competencies in simulation training. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(9):e2334658. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34658. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/37725373 2809667 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Fazlollahi AM, Yilmaz R, Winkler-Schwartz A, Mirchi N, Ledwos N, Bakhaidar M, Alsayegh A, Del Maestro RF. AI in surgical curriculum design and unintended outcomes for technical competencies in simulation training. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(9):e2334658. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34658. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/37725373 2809667 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Zhao C, Xu T, Yao Y, Song Q, Xu B. Comparison of case-based learning using Watson for oncology and traditional method in teaching undergraduate medical students. Int J Med Inform. 2023;177:105117. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105117.S1386-5056(23)00135-1 - DOI - PubMed

[6] Zhao C, Xu T, Yao Y, Song Q, Xu B. Comparison of case-based learning using Watson for oncology and traditional method in teaching undergraduate medical students. Int J Med Inform. 2023;177:105117. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105117.S1386-5056(23)00135-1 - DOI - PubMed

[7] Simsek-Cetinkaya S, Cakir SK. Evaluation of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence assisted interactive screen-based simulation in breast self-examination: an innovative approach in nursing students. Nurse Educ Today. 2023;127:105857. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105857.S0260-6917(23)00151-X - DOI - PubMed

[8] Simsek-Cetinkaya S, Cakir SK. Evaluation of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence assisted interactive screen-based simulation in breast self-examination: an innovative approach in nursing students. Nurse Educ Today. 2023;127:105857. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105857.S0260-6917(23)00151-X - DOI - PubMed

[9] Sheng B, Chen X, Li T, Ma T, Yang Y, Bi L, Zhang X. An overview of artificial intelligence in diabetic retinopathy and other ocular diseases. Front Public Health. 2022;10:971943. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.971943. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/36388304 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Sheng B, Chen X, Li T, Ma T, Yang Y, Bi L, Zhang X. An overview of artificial intelligence in diabetic retinopathy and other ocular diseases. Front Public Health. 2022;10:971943. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.971943. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/36388304 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Perceptions and Earliest Experiences of Medical Students and Faculty With ChatGPT in Medical Education: Qualitative Study

Affiliations

Perceptions and Earliest Experiences of Medical Students and Faculty With ChatGPT in Medical Education: Qualitative Study

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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