Exploration of the Role of ChatGPT in Teaching Communication Skills for Medical Students: A Pilot Study

Effective patient-centered communication, particularly the skills of breaking bad news (BBN), is crucial for successful doctor-patient relationships and requires specialized training. This study evaluates the impact of Chatbot Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) on BBN training for medical students. We found significant increase in medical students' confidence in their BBN ability (3 vs. 4.17, <i>p</i> = 0.002) and greater trust in ChatGPT as a tool for learning communication skills and professionalism (2.33 vs. 3.5, <i>p</i> = 0.001), after engaging in pre-designed BBN scenario with ChatGPT. These findings highlight AI's potential to enhance communication training, offering an innovative approach to developing essential skills in future physicians.