ChatGPT was given a challenge by a group of researchers: answering questions from the AskDoc forum on Reddit. The study then compared ChatGPT’s responses to those shared on the forum by medical professionals. The comparison involved rating ChatGPT’s and the medical professionals’ responses to 195 questions on the forum using a five-point scale. Along with assessing the “quality of information,” the ratings factored in “empathy” and “bedside manner.”
vOverall, ChatGPT provided the preferred response 78.6 percent of the time. Additionally, the chatbot outshone physicians in both answer quality and empathy, with ratings 3.6 times and 9.8 times higher than doctors, respectively. Ultimately, that shows that ChatGPT can have better bedside manner than actual medical professionals. Here’s a look at why.
Why ChatGPT Has Better Bedside Manner Than Real Doctors
First, it’s critical to note that ChatGPT and the responding physician’s bedside manner were rated based on written responses to forum questions alone. The comparison didn’t involve experiences in medical clinics or other healthcare facilities, scenarios in which medical professionals may respond to patient inquiries differently.
Still, within the forum, the main reason ChatGPT outperformed physicians in the empathy category is that medical professionals tended to offer brief, straightforward answers while ChatGPT offered longer responses and often expressed concern or seemed sympathetic to the forum user’s plight. It also provided clearer instructions about steps to take and offered justifications, while doctors were typically briefer. Essentially, ChatGPT was typically more personable and thorough about what to do next, as well as why those steps were important.
Now, a reason for the disparity could involve a single factor: time. Medical professionals responding to forum users are doing so voluntarily, and brevity can allow them to offer responses to more users if their time is limited. ChatGPT is a generative AI, and it can create several paragraphs in the same amount of time it may take a physician to write a couple of sentences.
Further, medical professionals must exercise caution when responding. They’re potentially liable for what happens to a forum user based on the advice they give. Since the physicians aren’t examining the forum users personally, there’s an inherent risk in offering a diagnosis or recommending a treatment. That’s one of the reasons that many answers will include recommendations to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. ChatGPT doesn’t factor in liability when responding to a question posed by a user, regardless of its nature, which may make specific recommendations more likely.
Additionally, while ChatGPT is exhibiting empathy in many answers, it’s critical to note that it isn’t actually feeling empathetic. Instead, ChatGPT responds to the questions based on how others replied to similar situations in the data given to train it. If the data shows that expressing sympathy is the norm, ChatGPT uses that approach.
Using ChatGPT for Medical Diagnoses and Care or Treatment Recommendations
While ChatGPT can create empathetic responses to forum user questions, it’s critical to remember the technology’s drawbacks. The creators of the chatbot outline specific limitations on the New Chat page, noting that ChatGPT “may occasionally generate incorrect information” and “may occasionally produce harmful instructions.” For those seeking guidance on a medical issue, that makes following ChatGPT’s advice without further research or input for a trained medical provider risky.
However, that doesn’t mean ChatGPT has no place in this landscape. The chatbot could become a valuable tool for medical professionals looking to provide thorough, empathetic responses to common questions. For example, physicians could have the tool generate the needed text, review it for accuracy, and then present it to the patient after confirming its accuracy. That process could make delivering information to patients in a palatable way less cumbersome, making ChatGPT a significant time-saver.
Physicians could also learn from how ChatGPT responds to questions. Essentially, the tool could serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy and bedside manner. In turn, medical professionals may use it as a model for how to respond to patients in a way that exhibits care, leading to better interactions.
Enhancing Patient Care Through Language Services
ChatGPT is a powerful tool that could elevate the patient experience. However, ChatGPT alone can’t cover every necessary base, particularly since accuracy isn’t guaranteed. Reliable, accurate communication is critical for patient care. By partnering with an experienced language services provider, it’s possible to bridge communication gaps and offer an enhanced patient experience.
Acutrans can provide professional certified document translations in 24 hours and has translation services designed for the healthcare sector specifically. Additionally, Acutrans has over-the-phone, video remote, and on-site interpretation programs covering over 200 languages, and we have an industry-specific interpretation program designed explicitly for the medical industry. Contact us for a free quote today.