You’ve probably used ChatGPT, Claude, or Google Gemini by now. Maybe you typed in a quick question and got a decent answer. Or maybe you got something completely useless and thought, “What’s the hype about?”

Here’s the thing: these AI tools are like a brilliant but literal-minded junior resident on their first day. They have vast knowledge, but they need clear instructions to give you what you actually want.

Prompt engineering is simply the skill of giving those clear instructions.

That’s it. No coding. No technical background needed. Just learning how to communicate effectively with AI—something you already do every day with patients, staff, and colleagues.

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What Problem This Solves

Think about your last frustrating AI interaction. You probably asked something like:

“Tell me about diabetes treatment”

And got a 2,000-word essay covering everything from pathophysiology to lifestyle modifications—none of it relevant to the specific patient sitting in front of you.

The problem isn’t the AI. It’s the instruction.

When you tell a new intern “handle the patient in bed 3,” you don’t expect good results. But when you say “take a focused history for suspected dengue, check for warning signs, and call me if platelets are below 50,000”—now they can actually help.

Prompt engineering solves:

• Vague, generic responses that waste your time
• Missing context that leads to irrelevant suggestions
• Information overload when you need quick, specific answers
• Inconsistent outputs that you can’t rely on

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How to Do It (Steps)

Every good prompt has four parts. Think of it as the ICFC formula:

1. Instruction — What do you want?

Be specific about the task. “Explain,” “List,” “Compare,” “Summarize,” “Create” are good starting words.

2. Context — What’s the situation?

Give relevant background. Patient details, your specialty, Indian healthcare setting, constraints you’re working with.

3. Format — How should the answer look?

Bullet points? A table? A patient handout in Hindi? Specify it.

4. Constraints — What are the boundaries?

Word limits, what to avoid, level of complexity, specific guidelines to follow.

Here’s how it works in practice:

Component	Weak Version	Strong Version
Instruction	”diabetes info"	"Create a diet plan”
Context	(none)	“for a 55-year-old vegetarian diabetic patient in Mumbai”
Format	(none)	“as a simple one-page handout in English and Hindi”
Constraints	(none)	“avoid expensive foods, keep it practical for middle-class family”

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Example Prompts (2-5)

Example 1: Quick Clinical Reference

I'm a general physician in Pune. Explain the current Indian guidelines
for hypertension management in a patient who also has diabetes.
Give me the BP targets and first-line drugs in a short bullet-point list.

Example 2: Patient Education Material

Create a simple patient handout explaining how to use a metered-dose
inhaler (MDI) with spacer. The patient is a 60-year-old Hindi-speaking
woman with limited health literacy. Use simple language, numbered steps,
and include common mistakes to avoid. Keep it to one page.

Example 3: Differential Diagnosis Helper

A 28-year-old male presents with fever for 5 days, headache, and
muscle pain in Chennai during monsoon season. No rash, no bleeding.
Platelets are 90,000. Give me the top 5 differential diagnoses
relevant to this region and season, with one key distinguishing
feature for each.

Example 4: Drug Interaction Check

My patient is on tablet Telmisartan 40mg, Metformin 500mg BD, and
Atorvastatin 10mg. They have a viral fever and want to take an
OTC pain reliever. What are safe options and what should they avoid?
Answer in 3-4 bullet points.

Example 5: Summarizing Research

Summarize this research paper in 5 bullet points for a busy clinician.
Focus on: what they studied, how many patients, main finding,
limitations, and whether it changes practice.
[paste abstract or link]

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Bad Prompt → Improved Prompt

Scenario: You need to explain a diagnosis to a patient

Bad Prompt:

“Explain PCOD”

What’s wrong: Too vague. You’ll get a textbook explanation that’s useless for patient communication.

Improved Prompt:

I need to explain PCOD to a 24-year-old newly married woman who is
worried about fertility. She has no medical background and is anxious.
Give me a reassuring explanation in simple English that:
- Explains what PCOD is using a simple analogy
- Addresses her fertility concerns honestly but positively
- Lists 3 lifestyle changes she can start today
- Explains when she should follow up

Keep the tone warm and encouraging. Avoid medical jargon.

Why it’s better:

• Specific patient context (age, marital status, concern)
• Clear emotional tone (reassuring, not clinical)
• Defined structure (4 clear sections)
• Practical constraints (simple language, no jargon)

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Common Mistakes

1. Being Too Vague

“Tell me about heart failure” → Gets you a cardiology textbook. Instead: Specify the type, the patient, and what aspect you need.

2. Not Mentioning the Indian Context

AI models are trained on global data. If you don’t specify “in India” or “per Indian guidelines,” you’ll get US/UK recommendations that may not apply—different drugs available, different cost considerations, different disease patterns.

3. Asking Multiple Unrelated Questions at Once

“Explain hypertension, also what’s the dose of amlodipine, and can you write a diet chart?” → Confused, incomplete answers. Instead: One clear task per prompt, or explicitly number your questions.

4. Not Specifying the Format

If you need bullet points but don’t ask, you’ll get paragraphs. If you need a table, say so.

5. Forgetting Who You’re Talking To

The AI doesn’t know you’re a doctor unless you tell it. Start with “I’m a [specialty] physician” to get appropriately detailed responses.

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Clinic-Ready Templates

Template 1: Patient Explanation Generator

I'm a [SPECIALTY] doctor. I need to explain [CONDITION/DIAGNOSIS] to a
[AGE]-year-old [OCCUPATION/BACKGROUND] patient. Their main concern is
[SPECIFIC WORRY].

Create a simple explanation that:
- Uses an everyday analogy
- Addresses their specific concern
- Gives 3 actionable next steps
- Is culturally appropriate for an Indian patient

Use simple language. Avoid medical terms or explain them if used.

Template 2: Quick Differential Diagnosis

Patient: [AGE] [GENDER], presenting with [MAIN SYMPTOMS] for [DURATION].
Location: [CITY/REGION in India]
Season: [CURRENT SEASON]
Relevant history: [KEY POINTS]
Basic investigations: [AVAILABLE RESULTS]

Give me the top 5 differential diagnoses for this presentation,
ranked by likelihood in the Indian context. For each, mention one
key feature that would help confirm or rule it out.

Template 3: Treatment Counseling Script

Create a brief counseling script for explaining [TREATMENT/MEDICATION]
to a patient. Include:
- What the treatment does (simple terms)
- How to take it correctly
- Common side effects and what to do about them
- Warning signs that need immediate attention
- When to follow up

The patient is [LITERACY LEVEL/LANGUAGE PREFERENCE].
Keep it under 2 minutes when spoken aloud.

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Safety Note

AI is a tool, not a replacement for clinical judgment.

• Always verify drug doses and interactions independently
• Don’t use AI-generated content for medico-legal documentation without review
• AI doesn’t know your specific patient—you do
• Guidelines and drug availability change; AI may have outdated information
• Never share identifiable patient information with AI tools (use “45-year-old male” not patient names)

Think of AI as a smart reference tool that can save you time, but the final clinical decision is always yours. You’re the doctor; AI is the assistant.

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Copy-Paste Prompts

For Quick Drug Dosing Reference

I'm prescribing [DRUG NAME] for [CONDITION] in an adult patient.
Give me: standard dose, frequency, maximum dose, renal/hepatic
adjustments if any, and key counseling points. Keep it brief.

For Generating Patient Advice Sheets

Create a one-page patient advice sheet for [CONDITION] management at home.
Patient is [AGE/CONTEXT]. Include: dos and don'ts, diet tips relevant
to Indian food, warning signs to watch for, and when to seek immediate care.
Use simple English suitable for [EDUCATION LEVEL].

For Understanding a Complex Case

I have a complex case: [BRIEF CASE SUMMARY].
Help me think through this systematically. What are the key clinical
questions I should be asking? What investigations would help clarify
the diagnosis? Are there any diagnoses I might be missing?

For Explaining Test Results to Patients

Explain these lab results to a patient in simple terms:
[PASTE RELEVANT VALUES]
The patient is [worried/curious/asymptomatic]. Explain what each
abnormal value means practically, and what they should do about it.
Keep it reassuring but honest.

For Creating Clinic Protocols

Help me create a simple protocol for [CONDITION/SITUATION] management
in my clinic. I'm a [SPECIALTY] in [CITY TYPE: metro/tier-2/rural].
Include: initial assessment checklist, red flags to watch for,
basic treatment approach, and referral criteria.
Make it practical for a busy OPD setting with [NUMBER] patients/day.

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Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Do mention you’re a doctor and your specialty—you’ll get more relevant, detailed responses
• Do specify the Indian context when relevant (guidelines, drug availability, cost constraints)
• Do ask for specific formats (bullets, tables, numbered steps)
• Do iterate—if the first response isn’t right, refine your prompt
• Do use AI for first drafts and brainstorming, then apply your judgment
• Do start simple and add complexity as needed

Don’ts

• Don’t paste identifiable patient information (names, phone numbers, specific dates)
• Don’t trust drug doses without verification from a standard reference
• Don’t use AI responses verbatim in medical records
• Don’t expect AI to replace clinical examination and judgment
• Don’t get frustrated if the first attempt doesn’t work—refining prompts is part of the process
• Don’t assume AI has current information on latest guidelines or drug launches

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1-Minute Takeaway

Prompt engineering = giving clear instructions to AI, like briefing a new junior resident.

Remember ICFC:

• Instruction: What task do you want done?
• Context: What’s the patient/clinical situation?
• Format: How should the answer look?
• Constraints: What are the limits and must-haves?

Quick formula for any clinical prompt:

I'm a [SPECIALTY] doctor. [INSTRUCTION] for [PATIENT CONTEXT].
[FORMAT REQUEST]. [CONSTRAINTS/SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS].

Example:

I'm a family physician. Create a simple diet chart for a
50-year-old vegetarian diabetic patient from a middle-class
family in Delhi. Present it as a one-week meal plan in a table
format. Focus on affordable, locally available foods.

The difference between a frustrating AI experience and a useful one is usually just 30 seconds of writing a clearer prompt.

You don’t need to be perfect at this. Start with one template, use it for a week, and you’ll naturally get better. Your AI assistant will become genuinely helpful—and you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

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Next up: Learn specific prompts for common clinical scenarios you face every day.