Artificial intelligence and allergic rhinitis: does ChatGPT increase or impair the knowledge?

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of allergic rhinitis requires patient education with easy access to accurate information. However, previous online platforms have provided misleading information. The demand for online medical information continues to grow, especially with the introduction of advanced chatbots like ChatGPT. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of information provided by ChatGPT regarding allergic rhinitis. A Likert scale was used to assess the accuracy of responses, ranging from 1 to 5. Four authors independently rated the responses from a healthcare professional's perspective. RESULTS: A total of 20 questions covering various aspects of allergic rhinitis were asked. Among the answers, eight received a score of 5 (no inaccuracies), five received a score of 4 (minor non-harmful inaccuracies), six received a score of 3 (potentially misinterpretable inaccuracies) and one answer had a score of 2 (minor potentially harmful inaccuracies). CONCLUSIONS: The variability in accuracy scores highlights the need for caution when relying solely on chatbots like ChatGPT for medical advice. Patients should consult qualified healthcare professionals and use online sources as a supplement. While ChatGPT has advantages in medical information delivery, its use should be approached with caution. ChatGPT can be useful for patient education but cannot replace healthcare professionals.

The usefulness of YouTube videos as a source of information in asthma.

BACKGROUND: Patient education is a key element in the management of asthma. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the popularity and usefulness of YouTube videos on asthma. METHODS: Two authors screened and evaluated the 200 most popular videos. Data on likes, dislikes, views, comment, source of uploader, days since upload, and usefulness were recorded and included for analyses. The usefulness of the videos was categorized as follows: useful, misleading, or neutral. Misleading videos provided at least one scientifically incorrect detail, whereas useful videos contained scientifically correct information. RESULTS: A total of 130 videos were included, and the total number of views was 100,290,242 with a total duration of 29 h and 8 min. While 26.6% of videos were uploaded by TV shows and YouTube channels, only 7.7% were uploaded by lung specialists. 65.4% of the videos contained scientifically correct information, whereas 18.5% contained misleading information. Although videos from medical professionals had a higher quality than videos from YouTube channels and TV shows, the latter were more popular. Misleading videos had numerically, but not statistically significant higher views compared with useful videos. CONCLUSIONS: YouTube videos on asthma are popular in terms of viewer interaction, and the popularity is not restricted to videos uploaded by professional sources. Although more than half of the videos were found to be useful, a non-negligible proportion of videos were assessed as misleading. The usefulness of YouTube videos on asthma is variable and initiatives should be taken to increase the potential of YouTube as an useful source in patient education.

The usefulness of YouTube videos on lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The use of social media as a source of health information is increasing, and the usefulness of the content may vary depending on the specific disease. Thus, this study was designed to assess the content, viewer engagement and usefulness of the most viewed YouTube videos on lung cancer. METHODS: 167 videos were reviewed, and 143 met the eligibility criteria. Two authors evaluated the videos separately, and data on views, likes, dislikes and comments were extracted, and data on the source of uploader, duration and content quality were recorded. RESULTS: 89 videos (62%) were classified as useful, 8 (6%) as misleading and 46 (32%) as neither. The misleading videos were significantly more popular in terms of views and likes compared with the useful videos: 845 643 versus 81 700, P = 0.003 and 12 170 versus 415, P < 0.001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that YouTube videos on lung cancer are popular and that around two-thirds of the videos are useful in terms of patient education. However, the misleading videos are currently attracting higher viewer interaction and might compose a future challenge in terms of the spread of misinformation as the algorithms will prioritize popular videos rather than videos with evidence-based information.

YouTube as a source of (mis)information on allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a very common chronic condition that affects nearly one-quarter of the adult population worldwide. The optimal management of allergic rhinitis includes useful information on several aspects of the condition. Social media and online platforms are increasingly being used to obtain health-related information. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate and evaluate the popularity and usefulness of YouTube videos on allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Out of 225 screened videos, 86 met the inclusion criteria. A scoring scheme was designed to evaluate and rate the content of the extracted data. Data on views, likes, dislikes, and comments were extracted, and data on the source of uploader, duration, and content quality were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 43% of the videos were classified as useful, 36% as misleading, and 21% as neither useful nor misleading. Although professional health care providers uploaded two-thirds of the videos, they accounted for only 24.4% of the total videos. Videos uploaded by television shows and YouTube channels had by far the most user interaction, accounting for 66.9% of the total likes, 66.8% of the total dislikes, and 54.0% of the total comments. This source alone accounted for 23.4% of the total views, but for 48% of the total misleading videos. CONCLUSION: The usefulness of YouTube videos on allergic rhinitis is varying and less than half of the videos provided useful information. If the proper conditions are met, selected YouTube videos on allergic rhinitis can be used as a source of information for patient education.