How Non-Traditional Educational Formats are Reshaping Neurology Training - Part 2

In part two of this series, Dr. Jeff Ratliff discusses the expanding role of AI and digital tools in neurology education, emphasizing the importance of verifying information and developing source literacy. 

Show transcript: 

Dr. Jeff Ratliff:

Hi, this is Jeff Ratliff from Thomas Jefferson University, and this is your Neurology Minute.

I recently recorded a podcast episode with Roy Strowd, Justin Abbatemarco, and Tesha Monteith, where we discussed the growing impact of technology in neurology education. In this episode, we touched on podcasting, AI-based learning and social media in neurology education, all as a panel discussion. As an accompaniment to that conversation, we're releasing a series of Neurology Minute episodes, exploring those tools.

Today I want to focus an important caution, verification. With increasing use of digital tools, AI or otherwise. The need for caution and verification of sources is even more important. Large language models and other AI tools are very frequently used by trainees at all levels. To summarize topics, generate explanations, and even draft a differential diagnosis. But as you all know, the outputs of these tools can be efficient and really impressive, but we need to keep in mind that potential issues with reliability. While less and less common, these tools may hallucinate producing information that sounds authoritative and sounds correct, but it's actually outdated or maybe even unsupported by evidence.

So for those of us teaching at the bedside or in clinic, this means we have a responsibility to help our learners develop literacy towards AI and other digital tools. We have to be critics of our sources. As neurologists, we can role model asking questions like, where did this information come from and how do we verify it, and did you read the study that they cited? We encourage trainees to trace these claims back to the primary literature or to pull up guidelines or other trusted review sources just as we do in our own practice. I don't want to pour water on the AI enthusiasm. The truth is still that AI education tools can be a powerful adjunct for learning, but we should treat it like an assistant, not a supervisor. It's useful, it's fast, but it's still in need of our own supervision.

Please tune into our podcast discussion to hear more about the rapidly changing landscape of neurology education. Meanwhile, thanks for listening to the Neurology Minute.