A recent study showed positive results among students using chatbots to answer certain clinical questions at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry.
While dental students at UIC currently use an online learning platform called Blackboard for more information on clinical procedures, they often turn to professors for answers to their questions, which can cause delays and bottlenecks.
Cortino Sukotjo, DDS, PhD, a professor of restorative dentistry at UIC and director of the college's predoctoral implant program, led a study examining the effectiveness of chatbots at answering students' questions to increase efficiency during procedures.
The research team developed a chatbot using information reviewed by dental faculty members, according to a May 15 news release. Some of the information the chatbot can provide includes what instruments are needed for a procedure and what code should be used for logging information into an electronic patient record.
Students were then split into two groups, one using Blackboard and the other using the chatbot for questions. The group using the chatbot rated the technology as being significantly more timely, interactive and anxiety-reducing.
Dr. Sukotjo is currently working on improving the chatbot and is also collaborating with software developers to turn the chatbot into a smartphone app.