A recent study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine has highlighted that a chatbot called ChatGPT can offer more empathetic responses to patients compared to doctors. The research project was undertaken by a team of healthcare professionals, who assessed responses from both doctors and the chatbot. Compared to the answers from physicians, those from the chatbot were rated more ‘empathetic’ and ‘very empathetic’, as well as higher on the quality of responses to questions.
The research team collected questions from Reddit and compared answers from both doctors and the chatbot to assess differences in responses. Out of the 195 questions and responses, evaluators favored the answers given by the chatbot over those from the medical professionals. Making a statement regarding the study results, the research team mentioned they were hopeful these results could lead to potential uses of AI assistance in clinical practice, reducing clinician burnout and improving patient outcomes.
Chatbots, such as ChatPGT, can be beneficial for healthcare as it could reduce clinician burnout and provide more efficient responses to patient queries. However, when it comes to seeking medical advice and gaining crucial information from a healthcare professional, the human connection should be prioritized as it has the potential to foster trust and empathy.
The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Danielle R Baker from the University of California, highlighted the importance of taking into account the opinion of patients when using chatbots in any capacity. As many patients may feel more at ease with the presence of a professional in the room, exploring chatbot solutions in the clinical setting should consider their comfortability and needs.
Randomised trials should be carried out to assess the potential of applying AI assistants in the medical context, reduce burnout and in turn, improve patient satisfaction. The future of AI in health care may hold potential solutions to making healthcare easier and more effective, but it is important to consider the human connection when it comes to providing quality care.
