Can ChatGPT Be Used as a Research Assistant and a Patient Consultant in Plastic Surgery? A Review of 3 Key Information Domains.

Abstract

Background: Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT), a newly developed pretrained artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, is able to interpret and respond to user-generated questions. As such, many questions have been raised about its potential uses and limitations. While preliminary literature suggests that ChatGPT can be used in medicine as a research assistant and patient consultant, its reliability in providing original and accurate information is still unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to conduct a review on the utility of ChatGPT in plastic surgery.

Methods: On August 25, 2023, a thorough literature search was conducted on PubMed. Papers involving ChatGPT and medical research were included. Papers that were not written in English were excluded. Related papers were evaluated and synthesized into 3 information domains: generating original research topics, summarizing and extracting information from medical literature and databases, and conducting patient consultation.

Results: Out of 57 initial papers, 8 met inclusion criteria. An additional 2 were added based on the references of relevant papers, bringing the total number to 10. ChatGPT can be useful in helping clinicians brainstorm and gain a general understanding of the literature landscape. However, its inability to give patient-specific information and act as a reliable source of information limit its use in patient consultation.

Conclusion: ChatGPT can be a useful tool in the conception of and execution of literature searches and research information retrieval (with increased reliability when queries are specific); however, the technology is currently not reliable enough to be implemented in a clinical setting.