Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42027930›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Investigating the use of generative AI policies among ASPPH member schools and programs of public health.

Ashish Joshi, Brian McGoldrick, Nidhi Mittal, Shongkour Roy, Zebunnesa Zeba, Michael Arthur Ofori, Stella Dockery, Niharika Jha, John Auerbach, Jean Cadet and 21 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Building Graduate Capabilities Through a Course-Wide Public Health and Health Promotion ECHA AI Curriculum Framework.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
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

31 authors.

Ashish JoshiSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
Brian McGoldrickSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
Nidhi MittalSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
Shongkour RoySchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
Zebunnesa ZebaSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
Michael Arthur OforiSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
Stella DockerySchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
Niharika JhaSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.
John AuerbachICF, Fairfax, VA, United States.
Jean CadetSchool of Population Health, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, United States.
Jessica KrugerTeaching Innovation and Excellence, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, New York, NY, United States.
Robert LeemanPublic Health and Health Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.
Kerry MitchellDepartment of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.
Guillaume MolterAdministrative and Web Services, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
Andrew NaidechProgram in Public Health, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States.
Elahe NezamiDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.
Sylvester OrimayeCollege of Global Population Health at UHSP in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Courtney QueenJulia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States.
Umair ShahPhamily, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
Abdul ShaikhGlobal Leader for Population Health, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Seattle, WA, United States.
Daniel SmithCollege of Graduate Health Studies, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, United States.
Melissa TracyDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, Albany, NY, United States.
Edward TrapidoLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Jorg WestermannSchool of Health Sciences, Walden University College of Health Sciences and Public Policy, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Andrew WissMilken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
Jonathan ZaccariniSchool of Public Health, Columbia University Mailman, New York, NY, United States.
Tim E LeshanAssociation of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States.
Linda A AlexanderAssociation of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States.
Jamie M AtchisonAssociation of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States.
Eduardo RuizAssociation of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States.
Laura MaganaAssociation of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into the operational and curricular foundations of higher education is a dynamically evolving issue, particularly in public health programs looking to ethically embrace the ever-growing potential of AI in health research and education. Despite a collective priority across the United States to effectively adopt generative AI, few works have characterized the scope and rigor of existing guidance. Methods: This study employs a mixed-method design to characterize AI use guidance offered by member schools of the American Schools and Programs of Public Health. Guidance documents are screened for relevance and accessibility, with the remaining documents being classified as guidelines or policies. The determined policies are analyzed for content via descriptive analysis, content analysis, TF-IDF analysis, and thematic analysis. Results: Out of a possible 155 schools, 18 schools were determined to have a generative AI use policy. TF-IDF analysis identified recurring terms of importance throughout the corpus of policy documents. Content and Thematic Analysis identified areas of focus and themes shared throughout the corpus of documents. The resulting triangulated data are used to identify strengths and shortcomings in the extant policies with suggestions for further development. Conclusion: The results of the mixed-method design indicate that extant generative AI guidance in schools and programs of public health in the United States is in its relative infancy. Shared themes and areas of focus show a predominant focus on the intersection of academic integrity and AI use among students and faculty. Additionally, data privacy and security, research ethics, and other areas are currently under consideration. This study demonstrates that AI use governance is growing but narrow in scope. Further development in the areas of pedagogy, legal guidance, and ethical use frameworks are needed in order to meet the growing demand to integrate generative AI into US higher education.

Indexed as

Generative Artificial IntelligencePublic HealthSchoolsHumansUnited StatesAIAI useASPPHgenerative AIpolicypublic health

Identifiers

PMID42027930
PMCPMC13099806

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.