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. 2025 Jul 14;25(1):1048.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07427-w.

The application of problem-based learning (PBL) guided by ChatGPT in clinical education in the Department of Nephrology

Xiaoya Tong  1   2   3 , Ying Hu  1   2   3 , Yanjun Long  1   2   3 , Qian Zhang  1   2   3 , Yao Yang  1   2   3 , Jing Yuan  1   2   3 , Yan Zha  4   5   6
Affiliations

The application of problem-based learning (PBL) guided by ChatGPT in clinical education in the Department of Nephrology

Xiaoya Tong et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Nephrology, a complex and specialized medical field, has seen significant advancements, yet traditional teaching methods remain outdated and less effective. This study explores the integration of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) guided by ChatGPT in the Department of Nephrology at Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital to enhance medical education.

Objective: To assess the impact of ChatGPT-guided Problem-Based Learning (PBL) on medical students' education and satisfaction in the Nephrology Department.

Methods: Fifty-four clinical resident doctors were divided into an experimental group, using ChatGPT-guided PBL, and a control group, using traditional methods. Both groups were assessed through theoretical and clinical practice exams, teaching satisfaction surveys, and self-assessments of teaching effectiveness.

Results: Results indicated the experimental group achieved significantly higher scores in both theoretical and clinical assessments. Additionally, they reported higher satisfaction and effectiveness in learning. Despite spending more time in pre-class preparation, the overall learning time did not increase due to reduced post-class review time facilitated by ChatGPT.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of ChatGPT-integrated PBL to enhance learning outcomes, satisfaction, and efficiency in medical education. Future research should include larger samples and longer follow-up to validate these findings.

Keywords: ChatGPT; Medical education; Problem-based learning.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study (including the experimental protocol and its implementation details) was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital (approval number: 2024–015). The survey was administered to medical students at Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital as part of their course. Informed consent was obtained, and participation was entirely voluntary. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flowchart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Assessment Scores Across Study Groups
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Learning Duration Across Study Groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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