A new study has revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, such as ChatGPT, might be nearly as effective as consulting a doctor when it comes to getting advice on low back pain.
Conducted by an international team of researchers, this study offers a glimpse into the growing potential of AI in healthcare, especially for addressing widespread health issues like low back pain, which is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.
The study was co-authored by Associate Professor Bruno Tirotti Saragiotto, Head of Physiotherapy at The University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He explained that the research aimed to assess how well AI chatbots like ChatGPT can respond to common questions asked by people experiencing low back pain.
The study, titled “Assessing the performance of AI chatbots in answering patients’ common questions about low back pain,” was published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Low back pain is a condition that affects millions of people globally. Many sufferers often turn to the internet for information before seeking professional medical advice.
With AI chatbots becoming more prevalent in providing health recommendations, understanding their accuracy and reliability is crucial.
According to Associate Professor Saragiotto, the study’s findings show that AI chatbots can offer advice with an accuracy level comparable to that of healthcare professionals in Australia.
This suggests that AI could be a valuable resource for those looking for initial guidance on managing their low back pain.
The research highlighted that AI chatbots performed particularly well when answering questions related to suggested treatments and self-management strategies.
For example, questions like “What complementary therapies such as massage or acupuncture could help relieve lower back pain?” were met with accurate responses.
Additionally, the chatbots consistently recommended exercise as a way to prevent and manage low back pain, which aligns with current medical advice.
However, the study also pointed out that AI chatbots are not perfect. They occasionally provided inaccurate information.
For instance, while medical experts agree that poor posture is not a direct cause of low back pain, the AI chatbots incorrectly stated that it is 88% of the time. This highlights the need for users to be cautious and not rely solely on AI for health advice.
Another important finding from the study was the AI chatbots’ ability to recognize when a situation required professional medical attention. In cases where medical referral was necessary, the AI systems correctly advised users to seek help from a healthcare provider in 70% to 100% of instances.
This shows that while AI can provide useful advice, it also knows when to recommend that a person consult with a professional.
Dr. Giovanni Ferreira, a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and one of the study’s authors, emphasized that while AI chatbots show promise, they should be used as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, professional medical advice.
He noted that these tools can be valuable for those seeking initial guidance on managing low back pain but stressed the importance of consulting a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Despite the encouraging results, the researchers did identify some limitations in the performance of AI chatbots. One of the main issues was the complexity of the responses.
Often, the information provided by the chatbots was written at a level suitable for individuals with a 10th to 12th-grade or even university-level education.
This could make the advice less accessible to those with lower health literacy, which is a significant consideration when developing AI health tools.
Associate Professor Saragiotto pointed out that while the accuracy of AI-generated advice is impressive, ensuring that this information is understandable to a broad audience remains a challenge. Making health guidance more accessible and easier to understand is crucial for these tools to be truly effective.
The study comes at a time when more people are relying on digital health information, often turning to online resources before or instead of seeing a doctor.
As AI technology continues to advance, the researchers stressed the need for ongoing research to refine these tools. The goal is to ensure that AI can provide accurate, accessible, and safe health information to the public.
In conclusion, while AI chatbots show great potential in offering health advice, it is essential to recognize both their capabilities and limitations. With further development and research, these tools could become a valuable complement to traditional healthcare, providing reliable support to those in need.
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The research findings can be found in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
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