Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
J Med Internet Res. 2024 Aug 14;26:e55138. doi: 10.2196/55138.
OpenAI's ChatGPT is a source of advanced online health information (OHI) that may be integrated into individuals' health information-seeking routines. However, concerns have been raised about its factual accuracy and impact on health outcomes. To forecast implications for medical practice and public health, more information is needed on who uses the tool, how often, and for what.
This study aims to characterize the reasons for and types of ChatGPT OHI use and describe the users most likely to engage with the platform.
In this cross-sectional survey, patients received invitations to participate via the ResearchMatch platform, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Institutes of Health. A web-based survey measured demographic characteristics, use of ChatGPT and other sources of OHI, experience characterization, and resultant health behaviors. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Both 2-tailed t tests and Pearson chi-square tests were used to compare users of ChatGPT OHI to nonusers.
Of 2406 respondents, 21.5% (n=517) respondents reported using ChatGPT for OHI. ChatGPT users were younger than nonusers (32.8 vs 39.1 years, P<.001) with lower advanced degree attainment (BA or higher; 49.9% vs 67%, P<.001) and greater use of transient health care (ED and urgent care; P<.001). ChatGPT users were more avid consumers of general non-ChatGPT OHI (percentage of weekly or greater OHI seeking frequency in past 6 months, 28.2% vs 22.8%, P<.001). Around 39.3% (n=206) respondents endorsed using the platform for OHI 2-3 times weekly or more, and most sought the tool to determine if a consultation was required (47.4%, n=245) or to explore alternative treatment (46.2%, n=239). Use characterization was favorable as many believed ChatGPT to be just as or more useful than other OHIs (87.7%, n=429) and their doctor (81%, n=407). About one-third of respondents requested a referral (35.6%, n=184) or changed medications (31%, n=160) based on the information received from ChatGPT. As many users reported skepticism regarding the ChatGPT output (67.9%, n=336), most turned to their physicians (67.5%, n=349).
This study underscores the significant role of AI-generated OHI in shaping health-seeking behaviors and the potential evolution of patient-provider interactions. Given the proclivity of these users to enact health behavior changes based on AI-generated content, there is an opportunity for physicians to guide ChatGPT OHI users on an informed and examined use of the technology.
OpenAI 的 ChatGPT 是一种高级在线健康信息（OHI）来源，可能会融入个人的健康信息搜索习惯中。然而，人们对其事实准确性及其对健康结果的影响表示担忧。为了预测对医疗实践和公共卫生的影响，我们需要更多关于谁在使用该工具、使用频率以及使用目的的信息。
本研究旨在描述 ChatGPT OHI 使用的原因和类型，并描述最有可能使用该平台的用户。
在这项横断面调查中，患者通过非营利性机构 ResearchMatch 平台收到参与邀请。一项基于网络的调查衡量了人口统计学特征、ChatGPT 和其他 OHI 来源的使用情况、体验特征以及由此产生的健康行为。使用描述性统计来总结数据。使用双侧 t 检验和 Pearson 卡方检验比较了 ChatGPT OHI 用户和非用户。
在 2406 名受访者中，21.5%（n=517）的受访者报告使用 ChatGPT 进行 OHI。ChatGPT 用户比非用户年轻（32.8 岁比 39.1 岁，P<.001），获得高等学位的比例较低（BA 或更高学历；49.9%比 67%，P<.001），并且更频繁地使用临时医疗保健（急诊和紧急护理；P<.001）。ChatGPT 用户更热衷于一般的非 ChatGPT OHI（过去 6 个月每周或更多次 OHI 搜索频率，28.2%比 22.8%，P<.001）。约 39.3%（n=206）的受访者表示每周使用该平台进行 OHI 2-3 次或更多次，大多数人使用该平台来确定是否需要咨询（47.4%，n=245）或探索替代治疗方法（46.2%，n=239）。使用特征评价较好，许多人认为 ChatGPT 与其他 OHI 一样有用或更有用（87.7%，n=429），与他们的医生一样有用（81%，n=407）。约三分之一的受访者根据从 ChatGPT 收到的信息要求转介（35.6%，n=184）或改变药物治疗（31%，n=160）。由于许多用户对 ChatGPT 输出持怀疑态度（67.9%，n=336），因此大多数人会咨询他们的医生（67.5%，n=349）。
本研究强调了 AI 生成的 OHI 在塑造健康搜索行为方面的重要作用，以及患者-提供者互动的潜在演变。鉴于这些用户倾向于根据 AI 生成的内容改变健康行为，医生有机会指导 ChatGPT OHI 用户明智地、经过深思熟虑地使用该技术。
