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A recent study led by researchers at Taipei Medical University (TMU) investigated how trust affects Utilizing AI in nutrition educationthe practical use of AI chatbots, especially among nutrition students. The findings suggest that students are more likely to incorporate AI tools into their learning if they perceive them to be reliable and useful, highlighting the importance of building digital literacy and critical thinking skills alongside technical training in medical education.
AI in Nutrition Education: Why Trust Matters for Future Dietitians
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, universities are facing new challenges. It’s about preparing future professionals to not only use AI tools, but to use them wisely. For nutrition and dietetics students, this means learning how to work with AI chatbots and digital assistants that can provide dietary information, support clinical reasoning, and streamline learning tasks.
At Taipei Medical University, researchers set out to understand the key factor behind students’ willingness to adopt these technologies: trust. Although AI tools such as chatbots are widely available, not all students choose to use them in their studies or future practicums. To design effective digital health education, it is important to understand what drives real-world adoption.
Trust as a driver of AI adoption
This study investigated how nutrition students perceive and use an AI chatbot as a virtual nutrition assistant. Rather than focusing solely on whether students have access to AI tools, this study investigated the psychological and behavioral factors that shape their actual usage.
The results show that trust plays a central role. Students who believed that AI tools were reliable and useful were significantly more likely to incorporate them into their learning. In contrast, students who were unsure about the accuracy or relevance of AI-generated information tended to use these tools less, even if they were readily available.
This finding suggests that simply introducing AI into the classroom is not enough. How students perceive these tools and whether they can confidently evaluate the information generated by AI will greatly influence whether AI becomes a meaningful part of the learning process.
Structural model showing important factors related to students’ actual use of ChatGPT in learning and nutrition-related tasks.
Beyond technical skills: Building critical digital literacy
This study highlights important implications for medical and health professions education. Training future healthcare workers to take advantage of AI requires more than just teaching them how to navigate digital tools. Students must also develop the ability to critically evaluate AI outputs, understand limitations and potential biases, and integrate algorithmic recommendations with professional judgment.
This balance is especially important in nutrition education, where advice can directly impact patient health. While AI chatbots may provide quick access to information, students must evaluate whether recommendations are evidence-based and appropriate for individual patients.
Impact of AI on medical education
As AI support systems become more commonplace in hospitals and clinics, students who are comfortable using digital tools and understand both their value and limitations will be better prepared for their future practice. This study suggests that universities need to place greater emphasis on fostering trust through transparent use of AI, clear guidance on ethical and safe applications, and training that strengthens students’ confidence in navigating AI-supported environments.
By addressing both the technical and human aspects of AI implementation, institutions like Taipei Medical University aim to develop medical professionals who can work collaboratively with intelligent systems while maintaining professional responsibility and patient-centered care.
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Original article: Trust predicts real-world use of AI chatbots as virtual nutrition assistants among nutrition students in Taiwan: path analysis
Original article: Trust Predicts Actual Use of AI Chatbot as a Virtual Nutrition Assistant in Dietetic Students in Taiped: A Path Analysis
