The effect of ChatGPT on the development of medical waste attitudes, behaviors, and environmental awareness among university students: A quasi-experimental study

Nahsan Kaya, Lütfiye Parlak and Pınar Duru

Evaluation and Program Planning, 2025, vol. 111, issue C

Abstract: This study investigates the effect of ChatGPT on developing medical waste attitudes, behaviors, and environmental awareness among university students. Conducted between March and June 2023 as quasi-experimental research, the study involved 76 students divided into study and control groups. The "Waste Management" course was taught with ChatGPT-supported instruction for the study group over 14 weeks. Results show that ChatGPT-assisted education did not significantly improve students' medical waste attitudes and behaviors but positively influenced their environmental awareness. Students in the study group found ChatGPT helpful in acquiring information and raising awareness, significantly increasing their environmental awareness compared to the control group. However, the expected positive effect on medical waste attitudes was not observed, indicating that educational methods should be reevaluated. In conclusion, ChatGPT can be an effective tool in environmental education, but more interactive and practical applications are needed to improve medical waste attitudes. Future studies should explore AI-supported education methods across different fields more comprehensively.

Keywords: ChatGPT; Medical waste management; Environmental awareness; University students; AI-assisted education; Educational Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:epplan:v:111:y:2025:i:c:s014971892500062x

DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2025.102595

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