Returning value from the All of Us research program to PhD-level nursing students using ChatGPT as programming support: results from a mixed-methods experimental feasibility study

Abstract

Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using ChatGPT as programming support for nursing PhD students conducting analyses using the All of Us Researcher Workbench. Materials and Methods 9 students in a PhD-level nursing course were prospectively randomized into 2 groups who used ChatGPT for programming support on alternating assignments in the workbench. Students reported completion time, confidence, and qualitative reflections on barriers, resources used, and the learning process. Results The median completion time was shorter for novices and certain assignments using ChatGPT. In qualitative reflections, students reported ChatGPT helped generate and troubleshoot code and facilitated learning but was occasionally inaccurate. Discussion ChatGPT provided cognitive scaffolding that enabled students to move toward complex programming tasks using the All of Us Researcher Workbench but should be used in combination with other resources. Conclusion Our findings support the feasibility of using ChatGPT to help PhD nursing students use the All of Us Researcher Workbench to pursue novel research directions.