A recent multi-institutional study tested GPT-4, the newest ChatGPT AI model, on how well it answers 31 common dermatology questions. These questions included major skin problems like acne, eczema, hair loss, psoriasis, rosacea, skin cancer, and other topics. The study looked at 93 answers from the AI. Three different dermatologists rated each answer as either correct or wrong.
The results showed that 88% of the answers were correct. This suggests AI chatbots can give mostly reliable information for general skin questions. For some conditions like acne, rosacea, and skin cancer, the AI gave 100% correct answers. This makes chatbots useful for simple problems with clear treatments and medical agreement.
But there were differences and mistakes in answers about more complex or debated conditions. Eczema had a 75% accuracy rate, hair loss 77%, and psoriasis 83%. This means about one-quarter or more of the answers were wrong or not suitable. Sometimes, the AI gave different answers to the same question when asked more than once, showing inconsistency.
For example, ChatGPT wrongly said that alopecia areata is the most common cause for all types of hair loss. All expert dermatologists rated this answer as wrong. Experts pointed out that AI answers can sometimes give false information, which is risky since many patients use online sources for advice.
These mistakes show that even advanced AI models are not ready to replace professional medical advice, especially for complex skin problems. AI chatbots can help as extra tools but should not be the only source of medical information.
Medical practice managers and IT staff in the U.S. have many concerns when adding AI chatbots to their front-office systems or patient platforms. Their main job is to make sure patients get safe and accurate information that helps with care and does not cause confusion or harm.
Many patients use AI chatbots because they offer quick answers without waiting to see a doctor. But if chatbots give wrong or incomplete information, patients may wait too long to get professional help or try wrong treatments. This can be dangerous, especially for skin diseases that need special care depending on the type, severity, and how the person reacts.
Also, dermatologists in U.S. health systems need to understand what kind of answers their patients might get from AI tools. Studies have been done with experts from several medical centers such as the University of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut Health Center, and Temple University. These studies check if AI answers match real medical facts. This work shows how important it is for doctors to watch over AI tools.
Using AI technology in clinical places raises more than just accuracy problems. There are important ethical and legal challenges that must be solved to use AI safely and well in healthcare.
Key ethical concerns include keeping patient data private, making sure patients agree to how their data is used, and being open about AI use. Patients should know when they are talking to AI and how their data is handled. AI must also avoid bias, which can happen if data is limited or if the programming is unfair. Bias could cause unfair health results. Being clear about what AI can and cannot do is important so patients and doctors can make good choices.
On the legal side, healthcare AI must follow rules like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient information. AI tools also need testing to prove they are safe and work correctly. It should be clear who is responsible if AI advice leads to health problems.
Researchers like Ciro Mennella and Umberto Maniscalco say strong management guidelines are needed. These help make sure AI is used safely by handling ethical, legal, and practical risks. They also help doctors and patients feel more comfortable with AI.
Besides clinical accuracy, AI chatbots are helpful for automating front-office tasks in medical offices. Some companies, like Simbo AI, use AI to handle phone answering at health facilities. This can reduce work for staff, manage common patient questions, book appointments, and send reminders without needing a person to do it.
Using AI chatbots for front-office jobs can make things run smoother and make patients happier. For example, patients calling a dermatology clinic about office hours or appointment times can get quick answers from AI without waiting.
But the limits found in dermatology chatbots should guide managers when using these systems. AI works very well for simple office questions. But medical advice, especially for complex skin problems, should be double-checked and clearly shown as extra information, not final advice.
Healthcare IT managers in the U.S. should set up AI with strong checks. Hard medical questions should be sent to real doctors or nurses instead of letting AI answer alone. This mix of AI and human work helps keep a good balance between working fast and staying safe.
The challenges with AI chatbots answering dermatology questions show the larger balance needed in healthcare technology. It is important to combine new tools with safety and trust. For U.S. medical offices that want to use AI for front-office tasks and patient talks, knowing these limits and adding human checks is very important. By following clear rules and watching accuracy closely, healthcare workers can use AI to help patients without risking trust or care quality.
Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil (sebum) and dead skin cells. Factors contributing to acne include hormones, excess sebum production, bacteria, inflammation, diet, and stress. Severity and triggers vary greatly among individuals, often involving a combination of these factors.
Many children with eczema tend to see improvement as they grow, sometimes outgrowing the condition by teenage years or early adulthood. However, some continue experiencing symptoms or recurrent flare-ups into adulthood. Management and monitoring by a healthcare professional are essential.
Alopecia, or hair loss, has various causes including genetics, autoimmune disorders, hormones, and stress. Treatments include topical agents, oral medications, injections, light therapy, lifestyle changes, and alternatives. Effectiveness depends on the underlying cause, so professional evaluation is important.
ChatGPT generated primarily appropriate answers (88%), but some responses were inaccurate or incomplete, especially for complex or controversial topics. It showed strength in acne, rosacea, and skin cancer queries but was inconsistent in eczema, psoriasis, and alopecia responses.
ChatGPT provides mostly relevant and accurate information but may include biased or inaccurate content and sometimes fails to acknowledge areas lacking consensus, so it should be considered supplementary, not a replacement for professional advice.
Limitations include occasional inaccuracies, incompleteness, lack of evidence-based citations, and defaulting to providing answers rather than admitting when no conclusive information exists, potentially perpetuating misinformation.
Three experienced dermatologists independently assessed 93 responses to 31 questions, rating answers as ‘appropriate’ or ‘inappropriate’ based on accuracy and public comprehension, with majority agreement determining the final categorization.
ChatGPT sometimes gave varying answers in completeness and accuracy to identical questions, notably on natural treatments, which raises concerns about response reliability and consistency.
Questions addressed six common conditions: acne, atopic dermatitis, alopecia, psoriasis, rosacea, skin cancer, plus a miscellaneous category, totaling 31 questions across these groups.
AI tools like ChatGPT show promise but must be improved with evidence-based training data. Dermatologists should be involved in development, remain aware of AI responses patients receive, and emphasize AI as a supplementary tool, not a substitute for medical consultation.
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