AI Tools for Communication Research

Overseen By Sarah A Elliott, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alberta

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Not in Canada, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

350 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether artificial intelligence (AI), specifically ChatGPT, can effectively translate health resources into various languages. The study examines a resource on preventing post-COVID-19 conditions, which a professional has already translated into seven languages. Participants will review either an AI or human-translated version and provide feedback on clarity and usefulness. Ideal participants are adults living in Canada whose first language is French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Arabic, Chinese, or Punjabi, and who can read English. The goal is to determine if AI can help make health information more accessible to everyone, regardless of language. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on AI's role in making health information universally accessible.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the study focuses on evaluating translations of health information.

What prior data suggests that using AI tools for translation is safe?

Research has shown that using ChatGPT for tasks like translating health information carries some risks. Experts note that ChatGPT might occasionally provide incorrect or misleading information, which is concerning when accuracy is crucial, such as in health translations. Additionally, ChatGPT might inadvertently share private information, so caution is advised regarding what is shared with it.

However, unlike some medical treatments, ChatGPT does not impact physical safety. The primary safety concerns involve ensuring information accuracy and maintaining privacy. In this trial, researchers use ChatGPT to translate resources, so it is important to remain aware of these risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance communication compared to traditional human translators. Unlike human translators, ChatGPT can process and generate language in real-time, potentially speeding up communication. Additionally, ChatGPT's ability to learn and adapt from vast datasets could provide more accurate and contextually relevant translations. This trial could uncover new insights into AI's role in bridging communication gaps, offering a fresh perspective on improving language translation efficiency and accuracy.

What evidence suggests that this trial's AI translation method could be effective for translating health information?

Research has shown that AI tools like ChatGPT, which participants in this trial may use, can clarify communication by translating information quickly. ChatGPT has proven effective in enhancing writing and communication skills, suggesting its usefulness in translating health information. Some studies have found that ChatGPT boosts learning and communication, supporting its potential to simplify health information across languages. Although direct evidence on ChatGPT's success in translating medical resources is limited, its ability to handle and explain complex information holds promise for overcoming language barriers. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Lisa Hartling, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alberta

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults in Canada whose first language is French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Arabic, Chinese or Punjabi and who can read English. It's designed to help those who may struggle with understanding health resources due to language barriers.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.

Living in Canada

First language is one of the selected languages (i.e. French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Arabic, Chinese, and Punjabi)

Exclusion Criteria

No access to an electronic device (e.g. computer or tablet), Internet or email

Does not live in Canada

I am under 18 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Online eligibility screening

Intervention

Participants review either an AI-generated or a professionally translated version of a KM resource and complete a questionnaire

10-15 minutes

1 online session

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for understanding, readability, and acceptability of the translation

Immediate post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• ChatGPT

Trial Overview The study compares AI-generated translations of a health resource on post-COVID-19 condition with professional human translations into seven languages. Participants will review either version and then assess their comprehension and the translation's quality.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Group B - Professional Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Human translator

Group II: Group A - AI Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

ChatGPT

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alberta

Lead Sponsor

Trials

957

Recruited

437,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10164801/

The role of ChatGPT in scientific communication: writing ... Overall, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT can significantly help scientists to write review articles more efficiently and accurately, thus improving the quality ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S295016282300022X

A comprehensive survey of ChatGPT: Advancements, ... ChatGPT can be used to study a large sum of clinical data, distinguishing patterns and directions that can be used to evolve new treatments and interventions.

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41599-025-04787-y

The effect of ChatGPT on students' learning performance, ... This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of ChatGPT in improving students' learning performance, learning perception, and higher-order thinking

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/384481899_CHATGPT_IN_COMMUNICATION_A_SYSTEMATIC_LITERATURE_REVIEW

chatgpt in communication: a systematic literature review The research results show that using ChatGPT in communication has had both positive and negative impacts. Positive impacts involve increasing ...

5. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21582440241310644

A Study on the Efficacy of ChatGPT-4 in Enhancing ... The results revealed that the use of ChatGPT-4 contributed to the development of students' English communication abilities. Furthermore, the ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753523001868

The risks of using ChatGPT to obtain common safety- ... The experts concluded that there is potential for significant risks when using ChatGPT as a source of information and advice for safety-related issues.

7. thehackernews.com thehackernews.com/2025/11/researchers-find-chatgpt.html

Researchers Find ChatGPT Vulnerabilities That Let ... Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed a new set of vulnerabilities impacting OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that ...

8. security.org security.org/digital-safety/is-chatgpt-safe/

Is ChatGPT Safe? ChatGPT is useful but poses risks like data collection, misinformation, and privacy concerns. Avoid sharing sensitive info and always verify responses.

9. tenable.com tenable.com/blog/hackedgpt-novel-ai-vulnerabilities-open-the-door-for-private-data-leakage

Private data at risk due to seven ChatGPT vulnerabilities Tenable research has identified seven vulnerabilities in ChatGPT that could enable an attacker to exfiltrate private information from users' ...

10. sentinelone.com sentinelone.com/cybersecurity-101/data-and-ai/chatgpt-security-risks/

ChatGPT Security Risks: All You Need to Know Discover the key ChatGPT security risks, threats from third-party integrations, and best practices to secure your ChatGPT implementations.