@Article{info:doi/10.2196/63065,
author="Elhassan, Safia Elwaleed
and Sajid, Muhammad Raihan
and Syed, Amina Mariam
and Fathima, Sidrah Afreen
and Khan, Bushra Shehroz
and Tamim, Hala",
title="Assessing Familiarity, Usage Patterns, and Attitudes of Medical Students Toward ChatGPT and Other Chat-Based AI Apps in Medical Education: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study",
journal="JMIR Med Educ",
year="2025",
month="Jan",
day="30",
volume="11",
pages="e63065",
keywords="ChatGPT; artificial intelligence; large language model; medical students; ethics; chat-based; AI apps; medical education; social media; attitude; AI",
abstract="Background: There has been a rise in the popularity of ChatGPT and other chat-based artificial intelligence (AI) apps in medical education. Despite data being available from other parts of the world, there is a significant lack of information on this topic in medical education and research, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Objective: The primary objective of the study was to examine the familiarity, usage patterns, and attitudes of Alfaisal University medical students toward ChatGPT and other chat-based AI apps in medical education. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from October 8, 2023, through November 22, 2023. A questionnaire was distributed through social media channels to medical students at Alfaisal University who were 18 years or older. Current Alfaisal University medical students in years 1 through 6, of both genders, were exclusively targeted by the questionnaire. The study was approved by Alfaisal University Institutional Review Board. A $\chi$2 test was conducted to assess the relationships between gender, year of study, familiarity, and reasons for usage. Results: A total of 293 responses were received, of which 95 (32.4{\%}) were from men and 198 (67.6{\%}) were from women. There were 236 (80.5{\%}) responses from preclinical students and 57 (19.5{\%}) from clinical students, respectively. Overall, males (n=93, 97.9{\%}) showed more familiarity with ChatGPT compared to females (n=180, 90.09{\%}; P=.03). Additionally, males also used Google Bard and Microsoft Bing ChatGPT more than females (P<.001). Clinical-year students used ChatGPT significantly more for general writing purposes compared to preclinical students (P=.005). Additionally, 136 (46.4{\%}) students believed that using ChatGPT and other chat-based AI apps for coursework was ethical, 86 (29.4{\%}) were neutral, and 71 (24.2{\%}) considered it unethical (all Ps>.05). Conclusions: Familiarity with and usage of ChatGPT and other chat-based AI apps were common among the students of Alfaisal University. The usage patterns of these apps differ between males and females and between preclinical and clinical-year students. ",
issn="2369-3762",
doi="10.2196/63065",
url="https://mededu.jmir.org/2025/1/e63065",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/63065"
}