EFFECTIVENESS OF AI-GENERATED INFOGRAPHICS FOR TEACHING TUMOR GENOMICS AND MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS OF ORAL CANCER TO UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL STUDENTS: A RANDOMIZED CROSSOVER STUDY

Abstract

Background: The undergraduate dental students often find tumor genomics and molecular pathogenesis difficult to understand using conventional text-based instruction. AI-generated infographics may facilitate visualization of these complex molecular processes. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of AI-generated infographics with concise summaries for teaching tumor genomics and molecular pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma to undergraduate medical students. Methods: A randomized crossover study was conducted among 48 thirdyear dental students. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups. Each group received two instructional modules, using either AI generated infographics with concise clinical summaries or conventional textbased study materials, before crossing over to the alternate learning modality. Academic performance was assessed using validated pre and post intervention multiple choice examinations. Secondary outcomes included learner satisfaction, and perceived cognitive load, measured using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using paired statistical tests appropriate for the crossover design. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Students achieved significantly higher post-intervention examination scores following infographic-based learning compared with traditional study materials (p < 0.001). Students reported greater satisfaction, together with significantly lower perceived cognitive load (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: AI-generated infographics represent an effective educational strategy for teaching tumor genomics and molecular pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. By simplifying complex molecular interactions into structured visual representations improve student understanding, and reduce cognitive load.