Recent studies have looked at how well AI models like ChatGPT (using GPT-4) answer common dermatology questions. One study asked 31 typical patient questions in seven groups: acne, atopic dermatitis, alopecia, psoriasis, rosacea, skin cancer, and other topics. This gave 93 AI answers that were checked by three different dermatologists.
About 88% of the AI answers were judged appropriate by these experts, showing fairly good accuracy. Some groups, such as acne, rosacea, and skin cancer, had 100% correct answers. This suggests that AI can handle common skin problems well. For example, the AI correctly explained that acne happens from clogged hair follicles, extra oil, bacteria, hormones, and other reasons—a usual explanation people often ask about.
But some areas were not as consistent. Answers about atopic dermatitis were correct only 75% of the time. Alopecia answers were 77% correct, and psoriasis answers were right 83% of the time. Other skin questions scored around 80%. This difference shows that AI has trouble with conditions that are unclear or have changing information.
Alopecia was a special concern. AI said alopecia areata was the most common cause but ignored other main causes like androgenetic alopecia. All the dermatologists disagreed with this mistake. It shows how AI can spread wrong information if it uses common but incorrect internet facts instead of strong medical science.
Even with an 88% accuracy rate, about one in every eight answers may be incomplete or wrong. Several reasons cause these issues:
Doctors like Jane M Grant-Kels, MD, say AI tools should only be helpers. They can give information but should not replace exams by trained skin doctors. Also, AI models need to be made with help from skin experts and trained with high-quality, evidence-based data to get better and avoid wrong or biased answers.
In the United States, healthcare leaders face important questions as more AI tools for patient talks become common. Some companies, like Simbo AI, offer phone answering and office automation using AI. Medical office managers and IT experts thinking about AI for dermatology or other areas should check:
Besides giving patient information, AI tools like Simbo AI’s phone automation can help run healthcare more smoothly. Dermatology offices are often busy. Good phone handling helps with scheduling, sorting patient questions, and lowering staff work. AI can answer routine calls so staff can do harder tasks.
Here are ways AI phone automation can help dermatology offices:
IT experts must make sure AI respects medical accuracy and keeps patient data safe. It should also send urgent medical calls to real doctors.
It is very important for dermatologists to help build and test AI tools. Their knowledge makes sure AI answers match medical facts and avoid sharing wrong or old info. This is more important since rules require AI to be safe.
Doctors and office leaders should work closely with AI makers to update models and give feedback. AI trained on verified skin research reduces bias and improves reliability for patients.
Also, training can help dermatologists talk with patients about AI answers, clear up wrong ideas, and explain when a doctor’s check is needed. Experts like Alana L Ferreira and Jules B Lipoff say understanding AI’s pluses and minuses helps keep good care while using new technology.
Using AI in healthcare brings ethical issues that need strong rules. Protecting patient privacy, being clear about AI’s role, keeping data safe, and avoiding unfair bias are main challenges.
US regulators are starting to make rules for AI in health. Following laws like HIPAA and meeting requirements for clinical tools is needed.
Medical leaders must keep up with changing rules and prepare their offices with policies and tech to lower risks. Being open with patients about AI and getting proper consent improves ethical use.
AI offers options to improve patient communication and office work in US dermatology clinics. AI answers for common skin problems can give patients quick, easy info, especially for well-known issues like acne or rosacea. Still, the fact that about 12% of answers may be wrong or incomplete shows that AI is not fully reliable and should not replace doctor visits.
Clinic managers, owners, and IT leaders must carefully check AI products for accuracy, patient safety, following laws, and practical benefits. Working closely with dermatologists and AI developers is important to make AI answers better.
Using AI in office tasks like phone answering and call sorting can reduce work for staff and help patients. With good rules and ongoing checks, AI tools such as those from Simbo AI can help deliver good skin care in US healthcare.
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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