The use of AI in everyday life has raised concerns for many, particularly around privacy and job displacement issues. However, in areas like healthcare, AI has shown immense potential to transform patient care and improve health outcomes.
Applications
Virtual assistants for telemedicine:
During the COVID pandemic, patients have increasingly relied on telemedicine to receive medical care. With the latest advancements in technology, AI-powered assistants like ChatGPT can help patients schedule appointments, receive treatment, and manage their health information seamlessly.
This not only makes healthcare more accessible but also ensures that patients can receive medical attention from the safety and comfort of their own homes.
Medical translation:
ChatGPT’s advanced language processing capabilities can significantly improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients. Its ability to accurately and quickly translate medical jargon, technical terms, and common expressions can help patients understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and medication instructions. This improves patients’ overall understanding of their medical condition and enhances their ability to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
With ChatGPT’s assistance, healthcare professionals can spend more time providing care and less time explaining complex medical terminology to patients.
Clinical trial recruitment:
ChatGPT can be used to improve clinical trial recruitment by identifying and engaging with potential participants. By analyzing patient data, ChatGPT can identify patients who are eligible to participate in clinical trials and reach out to them with personalized messages. ChatGPT can also answer questions about the trial and provide patients with information about the study’s benefits and risks. This can help overcome barriers to clinical trial participation, such as a lack of awareness and understanding of the benefits of clinical research.
Additionally, ChatGPT can help streamline the recruitment process by automating the screening process and reducing the workload on clinical trial staff. Using ChatGPT to identify and engage with potential participants, clinical trial recruitment can be made more efficient and effective, ultimately leading to better patient health outcomes.
Ethical Issues
One concern that arises with the use of AI-powered assistants such as ChatGpt is the accuracy and reliability of the information they provide. Although they offer quick and convenient medical advice, there is a risk that the information provided may not always be accurate or appropriate. Inaccurate diagnoses or treatments have the potential to cause serious harm to patients, which is why it’s essential to use AI-assisted medical care with caution.
Another concern is the potential for bias in the algorithms used by ChatGpt. If the data used to train the AI is biased or incomplete, it could lead to inaccurate or discriminatory results. This could have negative consequences for certain groups of patients, particularly those who are already marginalized. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the algorithms used by AI-powered assistants are transparent and free from bias.
Additionally, there may be data privacy and security issues when using ChatGpt to collect and store sensitive patient information. It’s essential to take all necessary measures to ensure that the patient data is adequately protected and not misused. This includes implementing appropriate data security measures and ensuring that users are aware of the risks associated with sharing their health information with an AI-powered assistant.
Overall Impact on the Future
While AI has made significant advancements in various fields, it cannot replace the expertise and experience of trained medical professionals. However, AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT can certainly assist doctors in their work by providing quick access to relevant information and helping with tasks such as documentation and analysis. This can ultimately lead to better patient care and outcomes, while also allowing doctors to focus more on direct patient interaction.
References:
Dave, T., Athaluri, S. A., & Singh, S. (2023). ChatGPT in medicine: An overview of its applications, advantages, limitations, future prospects, and ethical considerations. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 6, 1169595. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2023.1169595
Bernard Marr (2023). Revolutionizing Healthcare: The Top 14 Uses Of ChatGPT In Medicine And Wellness [online]. Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/03/02/revolutionizing-healthcare-the-top-14-uses-of-chatgpt-in-medicine-and-wellness/ (Accessed November 2023)
Homolak, J. (2023). Opportunities and risks of ChatGPT in medicine, science, and academic publishing: A modern Promethean dilemma. Croatian Medical Journal, 64(1), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2023.64.1
