Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) prompting: a structured approach to prompt engineering in medical education

O'Malley, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7725-4082 and Veenhuizen, Miriam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4428-2049 2026. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) prompting: a structured approach to prompt engineering in medical education. Journal of the Academy of Medical Educators 1 10.18573/jaome.11

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Abstract

Large language models are increasingly used in medical education to generate learning resources. However, informal prompt design undermines reproducibility and educational value. This paper introduces 'PDSA Prompting', adapting the Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement cycle to systematise prompt engineering. The framework involves a structured, iterative process: defining educational goals, testing prompts, evaluating outputs against predefined criteria, and documenting adaptations. Worked examples demonstrate that this method produces valid assessment materials and feedback. Ultimately, PDSA Prompting aligns artificial intelligence use with established norms of transparency, reproducibility, and accountability.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Cardiff University Press
ISSN:	2977-5981
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	1 June 2026
Date of Acceptance:	1 May 2026
Last Modified:	01 Jun 2026 09:42
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/187296

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