Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42170120›Full record

ReviewCureus2026

Conversational Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education: A Scoping Review.

Tasniya Aktar, Robert J Farquhar, Chris Jacobs

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

3 authors.

Tasniya AktarFaculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, GBR.
Robert J FarquharFaculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, GBR.
Chris JacobsFaculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, GBR.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Conversational artificial intelligence (AI), encompassing chatbots and large language models (LLMs), is rapidly emerging in the sphere of medical education as a dynamic tool for interactive learning. By generating realistic dialogue, simulating patient encounters, and providing adaptive feedback, these systems create new possibilities for learners to practise communication, clinical reasoning, and decision-making in a flexible and accessible way. Yet, despite increasing enthusiasm, evidence regarding their educational value remains fragmented. This scoping review examines the existing literature on conversational AI in undergraduate medical education, focusing on three key domains: educational utility, technology usability, and fidelity. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in August 2025. After deduplication, 496 unique studies were screened, and 20 met the inclusion criteria. These studies employed diverse methodologies and evaluation approaches. Methodological rigour was assessed using a validated framework designed for medical education research.  Across the literature, conversational AI demonstrates considerable potential to enhance engagement, support self-directed learning, and expand access to experiential practice. Learners generally view these systems as intuitive and motivating, and many studies suggest benefits for clinical reasoning and communication training. However, limitations in reliability, realism, and technical accuracy persist, and outcome measures remain inconsistent. Few studies assess the impact of response latency or the long-term transfer of skills to clinical settings, and methodological rigour is often modest. Overall, conversational AI appears to be a promising adjunct to traditional medical teaching rather than a replacement. Its value lies in scalability, interactivity, and adaptability, but effective integration requires thoughtful design, validated evaluation frameworks, and ongoing human oversight. As technology advances, further research should focus on standardising assessment methods, exploring learning outcomes beyond user satisfaction, and addressing fidelity and responsiveness to ensure meaningful, safe, and sustainable implementation within modern medical curricula.

Indexed as

artificial intelligence in medicinechatbotsconversational artificial intelligencemedical education curriculummedical education technology

Identifiers

PMID42170120
PMCPMC13189089

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.