So, you’re experimenting with ChatGPT and other AI writing tools, and you’re ready to play around with different types of AI-generated medical content. Go you!

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with the options and unsure of how to gain confidence using ChatGPT, this post will help you break down what’s possible.

What are ChatGPT prompts?

ChatGPT prompts are the instructions you type into ChatGPT to generate content.

There are many different types of prompts. They can be in the form of a question, a statement, an instruction, a scenario … the list goes on! We’ll get into that in more detail later in this post.

When you’re using ChatGPT, you provide a prompt to guide the response and specify the desired content or information you are looking for.

For example, you can provide a prompt like, “What are the symptoms of heart disease?”

ChatGPT will then generate a response that provides information about the symptoms of heart disease based on its training and knowledge.

You can then refine that prompt by adding more information about the target audience and word length, for example: “List five common symptoms of heart disease in men under 40 (in 400 words).”

You can vary your prompts in length and complexity, depending on the information you are seeking.

By crafting well-designed medical writing prompts for your health content, you can guide ChatGPT to generate content that aligns with your specific needs and preferences.

Can I use ChatGPT prompts in my medical writing projects?

There’s no reason why you can’t use ChatGPT prompts and other AI writing tools to help you plan your medical writing projects – as long as your clients are okay with it.

Being open and honest with your clients about your intention to use AI writing tools is key. Open communication avoids issues and ensures everyone is on the same page.

You may need to educate your clients about the pros and cons of AI writing tools, and reassure them that you are still heavily involved in the content creation process.

Remember: ChatGPT and other AI writing tools are writing aids, and you can’t rely on them completely. You still need to write, edit, proofread and fact-check any AI-generated medical content.

AI writing tools help you generate ideas and starting points, but they don’t replace your role as a medical writer.

15 types of ChatGPT prompts for medical writers

Ready to experiment and see what ChatGPT can do for you? Browse the prompts below and start thinking about which types would be most suitable and helpful for your medical writing projects. Let’s get prompting!

1. Instruction Prompts

These prompts provide specific instructions to guide ChatGPT’s response.

Examples: 

• “Write a detailed explanation of the mechanism of action of insulin in the body.”
• “Compose a summary of the latest research on the benefits of exercise for cardiovascular health.”

2. Question Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to provide answers or explanations.

Examples:

• “What are the risk factors associated with developing type 2 diabetes?”
• “Explain the potential side effects of a specific medication used in cancer treatment.”

3. Scenario Prompts

These prompts present a hypothetical situation for ChatGPT to address.

Examples:

• “Imagine a patient presenting with symptoms of a heart attack. Provide an overview of the recommended emergency response.”
• “Describe a case study involving the successful management of a rare medical condition.”

4. Comparative Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to compare or contrast different aspects.

Examples:

• “Compare the efficacy of two different treatment approaches for chronic pain management.”
• “Contrast the advantages and disadvantages of various surgical techniques for a specific procedure.”

5. Opinion Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to express a perspective or opinion on a medical topic.

Examples:

• “Provide your perspective on the impact of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare.”
• “Discuss the ethical considerations surrounding organ transplantation.”

6. Definition Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to define medical terms or concepts.

Examples:

• “Explain the concept of herd immunity and its significance in public health.”
• “Define the term ‘informed consent’ and discuss its importance in medical practice.”

7. Diagnosis Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to suggest possible diagnoses based on symptoms.

Examples:

• “Based on a set of symptoms, suggest possible differential diagnoses for a specific patient case.”
• “Discuss the diagnostic criteria and challenges associated with identifying a rare genetic disorder.”

8. Treatment Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to outline treatment options for specific conditions.

Examples:

• “Outline evidence-based treatment options for a specific mental health disorder.”
• “Provide recommendations for managing chronic pain in elderly patients.”

9. Explanation Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to provide explanations of medical processes or phenomena.

Examples:

• “Explain the process of blood clot formation and its implications for cardiovascular health.”
• “Describe the pathophysiology of a common autoimmune disease and its impact on the body.”

10. Research Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to summarise recent research findings on specific topics.

Examples:

• “Summarise recent studies on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety symptoms.”
• “Discuss the latest advancements in gene therapy and its potential applications in treating genetic disorders.”

11. Patient Education Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to generate patient-friendly educational materials.

Examples:

• “Develop a patient-friendly brochure explaining the importance of vaccinations and addressing common concerns.”
• “Write a step-by-step guide for patients on managing a chronic condition through lifestyle modifications.”

12. Procedural Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to describe step-by-step procedures for medical interventions.

Examples:

• “Describe the steps involved in conducting a clinical trial, from study design to data analysis.”
• “Provide guidelines for healthcare professionals on performing a specific medical procedure safely and effectively.”

13. Ethical Dilemma Prompts

These prompts ask ChatGPT to discuss ethical considerations in healthcare.

Examples:

• “Discuss the ethical implications of genetic testing for determining an individual’s predisposition to certain diseases.”
• “Discuss the ethical considerations surrounding patient-assisted suicide, including the principles of autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence.”

14. Feedback prompts

These prompts require ChatGPT to provide feedback or suggestions on a product, service or idea.

Examples:

• “What feedback do you have for my website?”
• “Do you have any suggestions for improving this article?”

15. Empathy prompts

These prompts encourage ChatGPT to show empathy or understanding.

Examples:

• My reader has terminal cancer, can you provide some suggestions to help her feel better?”
• My reader is feeling anxious about their recent health diagnosis, can you give me give suggestions to help him cope?

Other types of prompts

While the above examples are for medical content, the below general examples may be helpful in your medical writing projects, too. These are generic prompts you can use in any type of writing project – or in everyday life!

• Open-ended prompts: “What do you think about MailChimp?”
• Multiple choice prompts: “Do you prefer Chrome or Bing?”
• Yes/No prompts: “Do you think medical writers will still have jobs in five years?”
• Ranking prompts: “Rank these AI writing tools from most to least popular.”
• Scenario prompts: “What should I do if my client doesn’t like my first draft?”
• Comparative prompts: “What are the differences between Jasper.ai and Copy.ai?”
• Prediction prompts: “What do you think will be the most popular AI writing tool in the next 3 years?”

Finally, as always, it’s important to remember that, while prompts play a crucial role in guiding your desired response and giving you a helpful starting point, you should always review and validate any AI-generated content you intend to use.

You still need to review the content for accuracy, relevance, compliance, suitability and quality.