ChatGPT in medical writing: A game-changer or a gimmick?

Abstract

OpenAI’s ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a chatbot that answers questions and performs writing tasks in a conversational tone. Within months of release, multiple sectors are contemplating the varied applications of this chatbot, including medicine, education, and research, all of which are involved in medical communication and scientific publishing. Medical writers and academics use several artificial intelligence (AI) tools and software for research, literature survey, data analyses, referencing, and writing. There are benefits of using different AI tools in medical writing. However, using chatbots for medical communications pose some major concerns such as potential inaccuracies, data bias, security, and ethical issues. Perceived incorrect notions also limit their use. Moreover, ChatGPT can also be challenging if used incorrectly and for irrelevant tasks. If used appropriately, ChatGPT will not only upgrade the knowledge of the medical writer but also save time and energy that could be directed toward more creative and analytical areas requiring expert skill sets. This review introduces chatbots, outlines the progress in ChatGPT research, elaborates the potential uses of ChatGPT in medical communications along with its challenges and limitations, and proposes future research perspectives. It aims to provide guidance for doctors, researchers, and medical writers on the uses of ChatGPT in medical communications.