Comprehensive Summary
This research study assesses the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the development of patient education materials by medical students, evaluating whether AI usage improves or worsens content quality across three key domains. Using a prospective randomized controlled trial, researchers compared the understandability, actionability, and overall quality of materials created with and without AI support. The results were assessed using two standardized evaluation tools—the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and the Global Quality Scale (GQS). Findings revealed that the intervention group utilizing AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot produced significantly higher-quality educational materials than the control group. These results suggest that AI has strong potential to enhance the development of educational content within medical training, improving both clarity and clinical applicability.
Outcomes and Implications
Integrating generative AI into medical education carries important implications for patient care, particularly regarding the creation of accessible, actionable, and high-quality health information. The significantly higher PEMAT and GQS scores achieved by the AI-assisted group demonstrate that AI tools can help improve the design of patient education materials, ultimately supporting health literacy and comprehension. In a clinical context, clear communication is essential to improving patient adherence, outcomes, and overall satisfaction. As the adoption of AI tools expands and their integration into medical curricula becomes more common, it will be increasingly important to train clinicians to use AI strategically and ethically—especially to enhance patient engagement and ensure equitable communication across populations with varying levels of health literacy.