Teaching Patients Prompt Engineering: The Next Frontier in Health Literacy

Why every pregnant woman should know how to “talk to AI” before she Googles her next symptom. The Prognosis — Forecasting where medicine, and morality, are heading next.

When I trained in medicine, the smartest patients were the ones who came prepared with a notepad of questions. Today, the smartest ones come prepared with a well-crafted prompt.

“Doctor,” one patient told me recently, “I asked ChatGPT to summarize ACOG’s guidelines on gestational diabetes and it explained it better than Google ever did.” She wasn’t bragging—she was adapting.

We are entering an era where knowing how to ask matters as much as knowing what to ask. That is what “prompt engineering” is: the new form of health literacy.

From Googling to Guiding

For decades, patients have relied on search engines that reward keywords over context. Type “pain in pregnancy” into Google, and you get ads, opinions, and panic. But type “You are an experienced obstetrician. Explain causes of lower abdominal pain at 28 weeks in simple terms, list red flags, and when to call a doctor” into ChatGPT, and you get a personalized, structured answer—often safer and more actionable.

Prompt engineering is not programming. It is structured curiosity. It is how people shape AI to serve their needs without being misled by it.

Why It Matters in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an information storm. Expectant parents navigate thousands of questions, from diet to delivery. Good prompts turn confusion into clarity. Bad prompts amplify anxiety.

Learning prompt design helps patients:

• Ask AI in a way that reflects their stage of pregnancy and medical background.

• Avoid misinformation and tailor AI to evidence-based guidelines.

• Get answers they can take to their clinician for discussion, not substitution.

AI is not replacing the obstetrician, but it can help bridge the time between visits and strengthen shared decision-making.

The Ethics of Empowerment

Doctors often worry that AI might overwhelm or mislead patients. That risk exists, but so does the opportunity to make AI teach better questions. Ethically, empowering patients to use AI responsibly is the 21st-century version of teaching them how to read a lab report or understand a prescription.

When patients know how to prompt wisely, they do not become doctors—they become partners.

TOP TIP: UPGRADE YOUR AI VERSION

Most people don’t realize how far apart the free and paid versions of AI really are. Using a free model is like being seen by a medical student on their first clinical rotation—eager, well-meaning, and able to answer basic questions. But using a paid, advanced AI model is like consulting a top specialist who has years of experience, deeper reasoning, and access to the latest evidence. The difference isn’t small. It’s the gap between general curiosity and true expertise, and in health matters—especially pregnancy—it can mean the difference between surface answers and genuine understanding.

Top 20 Tips for Creating Excellent Health Prompts

1. Always start with a clear role: “You are an obstetrician explaining…”

2. Add context: Include age, gestational week, or condition if necessary.

3. Set the goal: “Explain,” “summarize,” “compare,” or “create a plan.”

4. Specify audience: “For a pregnant woman without medical training.”

5. Use plain language: Avoid jargon unless you want a technical answer.

6. Ask step-by-step: “List causes, then suggest next steps.”

7. Request sources: “Summarize based on ACOG or WHO guidelines.”

8. Limit scope: “Focus on nutrition, not supplements.”

9. Check tone: “Use reassuring, professional tone.”

10. Clarify format: “Give in bullet points or table.”

11. Avoid absolutes: Ask for probabilities, not certainties.

12. Request cautions: “Include when to seek medical care.”

13. Ask for updates: “Summarize based on 2024 guidelines.”

14. Personalize: “Consider that I am in my third trimester.”

15. Balance perspectives: “Summarize both risks and benefits.”

16. Fact-check: “Provide references or explain guideline source.”

17. Be kind to the AI: “Please explain clearly and simply.” It helps refine tone.

18. Iterate: If unclear, ask: “Can you simplify or rephrase?”

19. Verify: Use follow-up prompts to cross-check key facts.

20. Ask AI for help writing better prompts: It can teach you itself.

AI is the only teacher that instantly customizes its own lessons. When used carefully, it can help anyone learn to ask smarter medical questions without crossing into diagnosis or self-treatment.

1. Nutrition and Food Safety

You are an experienced obstetrician and nutrition expert. Explain in simple language what foods are safe, which should be limited, and which must be avoided during pregnancy. Include examples from different cuisines, explain why some foods are risky (like unpasteurized cheese or high-mercury fish), and provide a one-day sample meal plan based on ACOG and WHO recommendations.

2. Exercise and Fitness

You are an obstetrician counseling a healthy woman in her second trimester. Summarize the safest and most effective forms of exercise during pregnancy, including how much activity is recommended, what to avoid, and signs to stop. Include modifications for back pain, fatigue, and pelvic pressure.

3. When to Call the Doctor

You are a maternity nurse educator. List and clearly explain the warning signs in the third trimester that require immediate medical attention versus those that can wait until the next appointment. Organize them into urgent, concerning, and normal categories with short explanations for each.

4. Morning Sickness vs. Hyperemesis

You are an obstetrician explaining the difference between normal morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. Describe the symptoms, frequency, hydration risks, and treatment options in plain English. Include tips for eating and when to seek help from a doctor.

5. Glucose Tolerance Test

You are a prenatal clinician preparing a patient for her glucose tolerance test. Explain what the test measures, what to expect during the visit, how to prepare, and what the results mean. Add advice on how to interpret borderline values and how gestational diabetes is managed if diagnosed.

6. Understanding Preeclampsia

You are an obstetrician teaching a patient about preeclampsia. Describe the early warning signs, how it is diagnosed, and what happens during monitoring or treatment. Explain how it affects both mother and baby and what can be done to prevent complications.

7. First Prenatal Visit Checklist

Act as a patient educator helping someone prepare for her first prenatal visit. Create a checklist of important questions to ask about tests, vitamins, weight gain, medications, vaccines, and delivery options. Include a short section for partners or family members to participate.

8. Epidural Anesthesia

You are an anesthesiologist explaining epidural anesthesia to a first-time mother. Describe how it is administered, what it feels like, benefits and risks, and how it differs from other pain relief options. Include how it might affect pushing or delivery.

9. Stages of Labor

You are an experienced labor nurse. Describe each stage of labor—early, active, transition, delivery, and afterbirth—in simple terms. Include physical sensations, emotional changes, and how support persons can help at each stage.

10. Packing the Hospital Bag

You are a maternity nurse creating a detailed packing list for a hospital delivery. Divide items into essentials for the mother, for the baby, and for the partner. Include practical tips on what hospitals usually provide and what many people forget to bring.

11. Safe Medications

You are an obstetrician reviewing safe over-the-counter medications during pregnancy. Make a table that lists common conditions (headache, allergies, constipation, cold) and the medications considered safe or unsafe, with short reasons why. Base your information on ACOG and FDA categories.

12. Braxton-Hicks vs. True Labor

You are a labor nurse explaining the difference between Braxton-Hicks contractions and true labor contractions. Describe how to tell them apart using timing, intensity, and location. Add advice on what to do if contractions become regular or painful.

13. Travel and Flights

You are an obstetrician advising a patient planning to travel at 28 weeks. Explain airline and travel safety guidelines, how to reduce swelling and blood clot risk, and what documents to carry. Include separate advice for long car rides and international travel.

14. Cesarean Recovery

You are an obstetrician explaining what to expect after a cesarean section. Describe pain control options, incision care, mobility, and emotional recovery. Include when to resume activities and which warning signs require a call to the doctor.

15. Postpartum Warning Signs

You are a postpartum nurse teaching a new mother what symptoms after birth are normal and which require immediate attention. Include both physical warning signs (bleeding, fever, severe pain) and emotional ones (sadness, anxiety, detachment). Explain when to call versus when to go to the ER.

16. Breastfeeding Preparation

You are a lactation consultant helping a pregnant woman prepare for breastfeeding. Explain how milk production works, common early challenges, and what equipment or support can help. Include guidance on when to seek professional help if pain or poor latch occurs.

17. Prenatal Vitamins

You are an obstetrician explaining prenatal vitamins. Describe the role of folic acid, iron, calcium, and DHA, when to start taking them, and why consistent use matters. Include what to do if the vitamins cause nausea and whether any supplements should be avoided.

18. Sleep and Stress Routine

You are a perinatal wellness coach helping a pregnant woman improve sleep and reduce stress. Create a daily routine that balances rest, nutrition, and relaxation techniques. Include strategies for insomnia, nighttime anxiety, and safe positions for late pregnancy.

19. Gestational Diabetes

You are a maternal-fetal medicine specialist explaining gestational diabetes in an empathetic way. Describe how it develops, how it affects the mother and baby, and how diet, exercise, and glucose monitoring can control it. Include what happens after birth and whether it increases future diabetes risk.

20. Labor Induction

You are an obstetrician explaining the different methods of inducing labor. Describe medical, mechanical, and natural techniques, why induction might be recommended, and what to expect during the process. Include potential side effects and when induction should not be used.

My Personal Favorite Prompt

One of my favorite ways to use a prompt is to let AI help interpret lab or other results. (I just used it to interpret my hearing test). You can upload an image from the smartphone or copy and paste the numbers directly into the chat and ask:

“You are a medical doctor. Please read this lab report, explain what each value means in simple language, highlight anything outside the normal range, and describe what questions I should ask my doctor next.”

This turns a confusing list of numbers into a clear, personalized learning moment. It doesn’t replace your clinician, but it helps you understand your health—and that understanding makes every visit more productive.

These longer prompts show patients how to frame their question with role, context, tone, and goal—the four pillars of effective prompting. They are ready to copy, paste, and modify, but they also teach the skill: how to think like a partner in one’s own care rather than a passive recipient of advice.

AI is also remarkably good at creating prompts for you. You can simply ask, “Help me write a prompt to learn about nutrition in pregnancy,” or “Create a prompt for understanding my lab results.” It will design a personalized question that gets better answers. And don’t forget—you can save your favorite prompts in a ‘Project’ inside ChatGPT or copy and paste them into your notes app (I use Apple Notes) to build your own growing library of trusted, evidence-based pregnancy guides.