Scientists have discovered an artificial intelligence (AI) program that can help doctors choose the right tests for breast cancer screening and breast pain. The AI, called ChatGPT, was found to act as a bridge between physicians and radiologists, making it easier for doctors to recommend the right imaging tests quickly. ChatGPT learns from information on the internet to answer questions, making it ideal for helping make medical decisions. Research shows that AI could support the patient care process by recommending the best tests for doctors to order based on the patient’s data. To be more helpful, the AI could be fine-tuned with more patient data. However, before AI can be used in medical decisions, it needs to be thoroughly tested for fairness and privacy concerns and approved for medical setting usage. New rules for AI in medical settings will also affect patient care, but researchers believe that AI can play a pivotal role in the healthcare industry.
In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, researchers used 21 fabricated patient stories that needed screening for breast cancer or breast pain tests. They tested how well ChatGPT, both ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4, could help make medical decisions by returning recommendations to doctors on the best tests to use. ChatGPT 4 was found to perform better, particularly when given a list of options. For instance, for breast cancer screening, ChatGPT 3.5 was around 89% accurate, while ChatGPT 4 was about 98% accurate.
The researchers believe that AI could be part of the patient care process and are looking into how the program should be used most effectively. ChatGPT could be optimized by learning from more patient data to provide support for rare and complex diseases. The AI would then be made accessible all around the globe. However, the program needs to be tested for fairness and privacy before it can be used in medical decisions, and rules need to be put in place regarding its usage. Overall, the researchers believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry by saving doctors time and making their work much easier.
