Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40500171›Full record

ArticleJournal of dental education2026

Enhancing Dental Students' History-Taking Skills With a Generative Artificial Intelligence Chatbot.

Aidan Or, Smitha Sukumar, Andrew Ma, Derick Ang, Max Liu, Helen E Ritchie, Babak Sarrafpour

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of dental education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Aidan OrSydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Smitha SukumarSydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Andrew MaSydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Derick AngSydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Max LiuSydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Helen E RitchieSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9794-5702
Babak SarrafpourSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Funding

CognitiFMH Media LabThe University of Sydney
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAccurate history-taking is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning in dentistry yet there is insufficient time in pre-clinical years to practice this essential skill. This study evaluated dental student motivations and enjoyment using a generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot to practice these skills.

methodsIn 2024, first- and second-year Doctor of Dental Medicine students trialed a virtual patient (VP) chatbot using generative AI based on GPT-4 and then completed surveys to assess expectations, motivations, and feedback on the chatbot and compare their experience with in-person learning.

resultsA total of 31 students participated in the trial. The cohort saw a significant improvement in perceived competence after using the chatbot. Second-year students found more value in the chatbot than first-year students. While the students felt the chatbot increased their participation and provided more practice opportunities, most found it less interesting compared to in-person teaching. Overall, students were supportive of the integration of the chatbot into the curriculum.

conclusionEducational chatbots can act as VPs, allowing users to practice patient history-taking. This chatbot was seen as a beneficial, supplementary resource for pre-clinical dental students, allowing them to supplement the currently limited opportunities to practice this skill.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceClinical CompetenceEducation, DentalMedical History TakingStudents, DentalCurriculumFemaleGenerative Artificial IntelligenceHumansMaleMotivationCognitidental educationgenerative AI chatbothistory takingpatient interview

Identifiers

PMID40500171
PMCPMC13022446

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.