Objective To construct a hybrid teaching mode of combining CDIO teaching and ChatGPT-assisted teaching, and evaluate the teaching effect and satisfaction of this mode to provide a scientific and feasible solution for the reform of epidemiological experimental teaching.

Methods A total of 100 undergraduate students from 4 small classes of the Preventive Medicine major of the 2022 grade in the School of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University were selected as the research subjects. One class was randomly selected as the observation group by cluster sampling, and a blended teaching mode assisted by CDIO and ChatGPT was adopted. The remaining three classes served as the control group, and adopted the traditional experimental class teaching mode. The teaching effects between two groups were compared, and the satisfaction with the teaching mode of the observation group was evaluated.

Results The scores of course grades, total score of course core abilities and scores of five dimensions in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05). The effect size results of Hedges 'g's teaching intervention showed that the effect size of theoretical examination scores was 0.462, reaching a moderate effect level. The total effect size of core competencies of the course was 0.808, reaching the large effect level. The overall satisfaction rate of teaching mode in the observation group reached 91.67%.

Conclusions The blended teaching mode of CDIO combined with ChatGPT assistance can enhance the academic performance and core competencies of students majoring in preventive medicine in the epidemiology course, and has been highly recognized by students. It is a feasible path for the reform of course teaching.