Medical students at a university can now hold real-time conversations with a virtual patient that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
The AI-generated avatar, known as Sarah, was created by Coventry University to help future healthcare workers practice on patients.
The university said the fifth version of the technology, which is guided by ChatGPT-optimised prompts, can deliver unique answers to specific questions, rather than just listing symptoms.
PhD student Juliana Samson said the enhanced virtual patient talks in a “more natural style of communication” that would be more consistent with a person with her lived experience.
“Sarah’s answers are more consistent with the intended history that we want the students to get out of the scenario,” she added.
Ms Samson, who led the development project, said the avatar provided a “safe space” for students to practise without being under the pressure and spotlight of clinical practice in a real-life scenario.
She hopes the virtual patient will eventually be part of education tools to help train students in areas such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy.
“Students have told us it will help to build their confidence, especially for those who are maybe earlier on in the programme, and they enjoyed the activity,” she said.
“There’s a potential if we could optimise the technology to work particularly with occupational therapy on therapeutic modes of conversation.”