Basic Digital Skills: Your Gateway to AI
Before diving into AI tools, having some basic digital skills is essential. Many of you already use these skills daily! These include:
- Using a Smartphone or Computer: Knowing how to turn it on, open applications (apps), and navigate menus.
- Connecting to the Internet: Understanding Wi-Fi or mobile data (even if access is sometimes challenging).
- Using a Web Browser: Opening websites like Google to search for information.
- Basic Typing: Being able to type questions or notes, even if slowly. Many smartphones have voice-to-text features that can help.
- Managing Files (Simple): Knowing how to save a document or a picture.
If you feel you need to improve these skills, don't worry! There are often local resources, community learning centres, or even colleagues who can help. Practice is key. Every little bit of digital comfort you gain will make using AI tools easier.
Understanding Digital Workflows in Healthcare
A "workflow" is just the series of steps you take to complete a task. In healthcare, many workflows are becoming digital. For example:
- Patient Records: Moving from paper files to electronic health records (EHRs), like Zimbabwe's "Impilo" system in some facilities. Zimbabwe’s existing “Impilo” Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is being complemented by other digital tools (PSI.org, PDF).
- Communication: Using email or messaging apps for professional communication (while respecting patient privacy).
- Information Access: Using online databases or websites for medical information instead of only physical textbooks.
AI tools can fit into these digital workflows. For instance, an AI tool could help you summarise information from an online medical journal (which you found using your digital search skills) to include in a digital patient education leaflet (which you might draft in a word processing app).
Introduction to Promising Free/Affordable AI Tools
Several powerful AI tools are available, often with free versions that are excellent for getting started. These tools are primarily "Large Language Models" (LLMs), meaning they are very good at understanding and generating text. For mobile use, many of these have dedicated apps or can be accessed via a web browser on your smartphone.
1. OpenAI ChatGPT
- What it is: A very popular AI chatbot known for its conversational abilities, writing assistance, summarization, and more.
- Access: Available via a website (chat.openai.com) and mobile apps for Android and iOS. Free versions (like GPT-3.5) are powerful; paid versions (like GPT-4) offer more capabilities.
- Potential uses: Drafting emails, summarizing articles, brainstorming ideas, explaining concepts, getting help with writing.
- ChatGPT has shown utility in healthcare education, research, and practice, though concerns about accuracy and ethics exist (Systematic Review, 2023).
2. Microsoft Copilot
- What it is: Microsoft's AI assistant, often integrated into their Bing search engine, Edge browser, and available as a standalone app. It can also access up-to-date information from the internet.
- Access: Through copilot.microsoft.com, Bing search, Microsoft Edge, and mobile apps. Usually offers access to advanced models like GPT-4 for free.
- Potential uses: Similar to ChatGPT, plus image generation in some versions, and good for research as it can cite web sources. Microsoft has also announced tools like Dragon Copilot for clinical consultations notes (WEF, Mar 2025), though this is a more specialised application.
3. Google Gemini (formerly Bard)
- What it is: Google's conversational AI service. It's good at creative tasks, summarization, and integrates well with Google services.
- Access: Through gemini.google.com and a dedicated mobile app.
- Potential uses: Similar to ChatGPT and Copilot, with strong capabilities in generating text, translating languages, and answering questions. Studies have evaluated Gemini's accuracy alongside ChatGPT and Copilot in healthcare education (PMC, Feb 2025).
Important Note: The "free" versions of these tools are excellent for many tasks. They might have limits on usage or not have all the features of paid versions, but they are more than enough to start exploring and benefiting from AI. Always check the terms of service.
Setting Up and Navigating These Tools
Setting up these tools is usually straightforward:
- Access via Web Browser (Computer or Smartphone):
- Open your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox).
- Type the website address (e.g., chat.openai.com, copilot.microsoft.com, gemini.google.com).
- You'll likely need to sign up for a free account using an email address. Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Access via Mobile App (Smartphone):
- Go to your phone's app store (Google Play Store for Android, Apple App Store for iOS).
- Search for "ChatGPT," "Microsoft Copilot," or "Google Gemini."
- Download and install the official app.
- Open the app and sign up or log in with your account.
Navigating the Interface (General Description):
Most of these tools have a simple interface:
- Input Box/Prompt Box: This is where you type your question or instruction (this is called a "prompt"). It's usually at the bottom of the screen.
- Send/Submit Button: After typing your prompt, you press this button (often an arrow icon) to send it to the AI.
- Chat Window/Conversation Area: This is where your conversation with the AI appears. Your prompts and the AI's responses will be displayed here, like a messaging app.
- New Chat/Conversation Button: Usually allows you to start a fresh conversation, so previous topics don't confuse the AI.
- Menu/Settings: Often a button with lines (hamburger menu) or a gear icon, where you can find account settings, past conversations, etc.
Using AI for Routine Healthcare Tasks
Here are some basic ways AI can help with everyday tasks. Remember to always verify critical information!
Information Retrieval and Summarization
How it helps: Need a quick overview of a condition, drug, or procedure? AI can search and summarise information much faster than manually reading through long documents.
Example Prompt: "Summarise the key points about managing dehydration in children for a healthcare worker."
Keep in Mind: Always cross-check with trusted medical sources (e.g., WHO guidelines, national protocols). AI summaries are a starting point.
Drafting Communications (Emails, Patient Handouts)
How it helps: Struggling to find the right words for an email to a colleague or a simple handout for a patient? AI can help you draft these.
Example Prompt: "Draft a simple patient handout explaining the importance of completing a full course of antibiotics. Use simple language."
Keep in Mind: You MUST review and edit the draft to ensure it's accurate, appropriate for your patient, culturally sensitive, and aligns with your professional advice. Never copy-paste without review.
Basic Data Entry and Organization Ideas
How it helps: While AI chatbots don't directly manage databases for you, they can help you think about how to organise information or even generate templates for simple tracking sheets.
Example Prompt: "Suggest column headings for a spreadsheet to track monthly clinic supplies for a small rural clinic." OR "Create a simple checklist template for daily opening procedures in a small lab."
Keep in Mind: For actual data entry into systems like Impilo, follow official procedures. AI can help with planning or designing *your own* simple, non-official tracking tools (like a personal spreadsheet).
Scheduling and Time Management Assistance
How it helps: AI can help you draft to-do lists, prioritise tasks, or suggest ways to organise your schedule.
Example Prompt: "I have the following tasks today: [list tasks]. Help me prioritise them for a busy clinic day." OR "Give me some time management tips for an allied health professional."
Keep in Mind: This is for personal organization. Official clinic scheduling should use approved systems.
Language Translation for Basic Instructions
How it helps: Need to communicate a simple instruction to a patient who speaks a different language? AI can provide quick translations. This is particularly useful for common phrases in Shona or Ndebele.
Example Prompt: "Translate 'Please wait here' into Shona and Ndebele." OR "Translate 'Take this medicine two times a day' into simple Shona."
Keep in Mind: AI translations are not perfect, especially for medical nuances or complex sentences. Use for very simple, common phrases. Always try to have a human interpreter for important clinical communication. Verify AI translations with a fluent speaker if possible, especially if using them for written materials.
Module 2: Practical Task
Your Task: Use an AI Tool to Summarise a Short Health Article.
- Find a short, publicly available health news article online (e.g., from WHO Africa news, a reputable health website).
- Copy a few paragraphs (around 100-200 words) from the article.
- Open one of the AI tools discussed (ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini).
- In the prompt box, type: "Please summarise the following text in 3 key bullet points:" and then paste the text you copied.
- Review the summary the AI provides.
- Is it accurate?
- Does it capture the main ideas?
- Is it easier to understand than reading the whole text quickly?
This exercise will give you a feel for how AI can help with information processing. Remember, this is for practice; for clinical information, rely on full articles from trusted sources.