Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and Literacy

Introduction: Artificial intelligence is an area that has been transforming various sectors of society. One of these tools is ChatGPT (chat generative pre-trained transformer), a large language model-based platform developed to understand language patterns and generate answers. The accessibility, a...

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Main Authors: José Ganicho, Maria Carlos, Gonçalo Cristóvão, Claudina Cruz, Marta Leal, Ana Raquel Garrote, Diogo Bento, Diana Seixas, Maria José Manata, Fernando Maltez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ordem dos Médicos 2025-06-01
Series:Acta Médica Portuguesa
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Online Access:https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/22805
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author José Ganicho
Maria Carlos
Gonçalo Cristóvão
Claudina Cruz
Marta Leal
Ana Raquel Garrote
Diogo Bento
Diana Seixas
Maria José Manata
Fernando Maltez
author_facet José Ganicho
Maria Carlos
Gonçalo Cristóvão
Claudina Cruz
Marta Leal
Ana Raquel Garrote
Diogo Bento
Diana Seixas
Maria José Manata
Fernando Maltez
author_sort José Ganicho
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Artificial intelligence is an area that has been transforming various sectors of society. One of these tools is ChatGPT (chat generative pre-trained transformer), a large language model-based platform developed to understand language patterns and generate answers. The accessibility, answers in real-time, and privacy make ChatGPT a platform with enormous potential in health counseling. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of ChatGPT in health counseling and literacy regarding HIV infection and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Methods: A team of five experts in infectious diseases was consulted regarding the five most frequently asked questions by patients regarding initial HIV diagnosis and PrEP. The questions were submitted to the ChatGPT-4 version and the quality of the answers was reviewed based on a Likert scale from 1 to 5 (from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’). The evaluation of the expert’s team followed a set of eight criteria: accuracy, clarity, relevance, depth, objectivity, conciseness, timeliness, and suitability for the target audience. Results: The five most frequently asked questions by patients regarding HIV infection and the mean evaluation of the answers were: “What does it mean to have HIV? Will I die sooner?” (4.25), “Does HIV infection have a cure? Will I ever be able to stop taking medication?” (4.35), “Can I transmit my infection to other people? How to avoid it?” (4.03), “What are the adverse effects of the antiretroviral treatment?” (3.53), “Can I have unprotected sexual relationships? What are the risks?” (4.53). Regarding PrEP, the more frequently asked questions were: “I want to start pre-exposure prophylaxis. Is it safe?” (4.58), “What are the different regimens of pre-exposure prophylaxis?” (4.63), “After I start taking pre-exposure prophylaxis, do I have to take it forever?” (3.95), “What are the adverse effects of pre-exposure prophylaxis?” (4.63), “Does pre-exposure prophylaxis protect against other sexually transmitted infections or do I have to use condoms?” (4.60). Conclusion: Only two answers received a rating below four on the 1 - 5 Likert scale, highlighting ChatGPT’s potential as a promising tool for health counselling and literacy, provided ethical and legal concerns are effectively addressed.
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spelling doaj-art-2377ee6119f04e37b654675bf52edd142025-08-20T01:58:23ZengOrdem dos MédicosActa Médica Portuguesa0870-399X1646-07582025-06-01386-710.20344/amp.22805Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and LiteracyJosé Ganicho0Maria Carlos1Gonçalo Cristóvão2Claudina Cruz3Marta Leal4Ana Raquel Garrote5Diogo Bento6Diana Seixas7Maria José Manata8Fernando Maltez9Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal.Infectious Diseases Department. Hospital de Curry Cabral. Unidade Local de Saúde de São José. Lisbon. Portugal; Environmental Health Institute. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon. Portugal. Introduction: Artificial intelligence is an area that has been transforming various sectors of society. One of these tools is ChatGPT (chat generative pre-trained transformer), a large language model-based platform developed to understand language patterns and generate answers. The accessibility, answers in real-time, and privacy make ChatGPT a platform with enormous potential in health counseling. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of ChatGPT in health counseling and literacy regarding HIV infection and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Methods: A team of five experts in infectious diseases was consulted regarding the five most frequently asked questions by patients regarding initial HIV diagnosis and PrEP. The questions were submitted to the ChatGPT-4 version and the quality of the answers was reviewed based on a Likert scale from 1 to 5 (from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’). The evaluation of the expert’s team followed a set of eight criteria: accuracy, clarity, relevance, depth, objectivity, conciseness, timeliness, and suitability for the target audience. Results: The five most frequently asked questions by patients regarding HIV infection and the mean evaluation of the answers were: “What does it mean to have HIV? Will I die sooner?” (4.25), “Does HIV infection have a cure? Will I ever be able to stop taking medication?” (4.35), “Can I transmit my infection to other people? How to avoid it?” (4.03), “What are the adverse effects of the antiretroviral treatment?” (3.53), “Can I have unprotected sexual relationships? What are the risks?” (4.53). Regarding PrEP, the more frequently asked questions were: “I want to start pre-exposure prophylaxis. Is it safe?” (4.58), “What are the different regimens of pre-exposure prophylaxis?” (4.63), “After I start taking pre-exposure prophylaxis, do I have to take it forever?” (3.95), “What are the adverse effects of pre-exposure prophylaxis?” (4.63), “Does pre-exposure prophylaxis protect against other sexually transmitted infections or do I have to use condoms?” (4.60). Conclusion: Only two answers received a rating below four on the 1 - 5 Likert scale, highlighting ChatGPT’s potential as a promising tool for health counselling and literacy, provided ethical and legal concerns are effectively addressed. https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/22805Artificial IntelligenceHealth LiteracyHIV Infections/prevention & controlPre-Exposure Prophylaxis
spellingShingle José Ganicho
Maria Carlos
Gonçalo Cristóvão
Claudina Cruz
Marta Leal
Ana Raquel Garrote
Diogo Bento
Diana Seixas
Maria José Manata
Fernando Maltez
Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and Literacy
Acta Médica Portuguesa
Artificial Intelligence
Health Literacy
HIV Infections/prevention & control
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
title Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and Literacy
title_full Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and Literacy
title_fullStr Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and Literacy
title_full_unstemmed Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and Literacy
title_short Use of ChatGPT in HIV Infection Counselling and Literacy
title_sort use of chatgpt in hiv infection counselling and literacy
topic Artificial Intelligence
Health Literacy
HIV Infections/prevention & control
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
url https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/22805
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