Critical Care Innovations (Jun 2024)
Approaches for integrating generative artificial intelligence in emergency healthcare education within higher education: a scoping review
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Gen AI, exemplified by tools like ChatGPT, has transformed various sectors, including healthcare education. Despite its rapid adoption across fields, the utilisation of Gen AI in healthcare education in the UK remains inconsistent, with research predominantly focused on academic integrity and examination performance, rather than exploring its potential benefits in educational practices. Notably, there is a paucity of literature within emergency healthcare education and paramedic courses. Objective - to investigate the integration and impact of Generative AI (Gen AI) within emergency healthcare education, focusing on undergraduate and postgraduate pre-registration courses in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, and Cochrane were searched. The selection process involved screening by title and abstract, followed by full text review. Thematic analysis identified prevalent Gen AI applications within healthcare education. Inclusion criteria - the review targeted peer-reviewed studies that discuss the use of Gen AI in healthcare education, without publication date or geographical restrictions. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were included in the review. These studies demonstrated Gen AI’s application in curriculum development, assessment design, student implementation, academic support, and clinical application. Gen AI aids educators in curriculum design and assessment creation, supports students through digital literacy enhancement, and facilitates academic writing and research practices. Additionally, its role extends to practical skill enhancement in clinical scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Gen AI offers transformative potential for all healthcare education and applications to the emergency education setting, providing innovative solutions for curriculum design, learning tools, and clinical simulations. While the identified themes are generalisable to healthcare education, they hold particular relevance for individuals seeking to advance the utilisation of Gen AI technologies within the specialised domain of emergency and prehospital care. However, its integration requires careful consideration of legal, ethical, and pedagogical implications.
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