Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners
Objectives Following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, interest in large language model-powered chatbots has soared with increasing focus on the clinical potential of these tools. We sought to measure general practitioners’ (GPs) current use of this new generation of chatbots to assist with an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-09-01
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| Series: | BMJ Health & Care Informatics |
| Online Access: | https://informatics.bmj.com/content/31/1/e101102.full |
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| author | Charlotte R Blease Cosima Locher Maria Hägglund Jens Gaab Kenneth D Mandl |
| author_facet | Charlotte R Blease Cosima Locher Maria Hägglund Jens Gaab Kenneth D Mandl |
| author_sort | Charlotte R Blease |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, interest in large language model-powered chatbots has soared with increasing focus on the clinical potential of these tools. We sought to measure general practitioners’ (GPs) current use of this new generation of chatbots to assist with any aspect of clinical practice in the UK.Methods An online survey was distributed to a non-probability sample of GPs registered with the clinician marketing service Doctors.net.uk. The study was launched as a monthly ‘omnibus survey’ which has a predetermined sample size of 1000 participants.Results 531 (53%) respondents were men, 544 (54%) were 46 years or older. 20% (205) reported using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in clinical practice; of those who answered affirmatively and were invited to clarify further, 29% (47) reported using these tools to generate documentation after patient appointments and 28% (45) to suggest a differential diagnosis.Discussion Administered a year after ChatGPT was launched, this is the largest survey we know of conducted into doctors’ use of generative AI in clinical practice. Findings suggest that GPs may derive value from these tools, particularly with administrative tasks and to support clinical reasoning.Conclusion Despite a lack of guidance about these tools and unclear work policies, GPs report using generative AI to assist with their job. The medical community will need to find ways to both educate physicians and trainees and guide patients about the safe adoption of these tools. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ebc0ff26dc04f9c8f092ebff06b4a1a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2632-1009 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Health & Care Informatics |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ebc0ff26dc04f9c8f092ebff06b4a1a2025-08-20T03:48:51ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Health & Care Informatics2632-10092024-09-0131110.1136/bmjhci-2024-101102Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitionersCharlotte R Blease0Cosima Locher1Maria Hägglund2Jens Gaab3Kenneth D Mandl41 Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden3 Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland1 Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden1 Divison of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland5 Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USAObjectives Following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, interest in large language model-powered chatbots has soared with increasing focus on the clinical potential of these tools. We sought to measure general practitioners’ (GPs) current use of this new generation of chatbots to assist with any aspect of clinical practice in the UK.Methods An online survey was distributed to a non-probability sample of GPs registered with the clinician marketing service Doctors.net.uk. The study was launched as a monthly ‘omnibus survey’ which has a predetermined sample size of 1000 participants.Results 531 (53%) respondents were men, 544 (54%) were 46 years or older. 20% (205) reported using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in clinical practice; of those who answered affirmatively and were invited to clarify further, 29% (47) reported using these tools to generate documentation after patient appointments and 28% (45) to suggest a differential diagnosis.Discussion Administered a year after ChatGPT was launched, this is the largest survey we know of conducted into doctors’ use of generative AI in clinical practice. Findings suggest that GPs may derive value from these tools, particularly with administrative tasks and to support clinical reasoning.Conclusion Despite a lack of guidance about these tools and unclear work policies, GPs report using generative AI to assist with their job. The medical community will need to find ways to both educate physicians and trainees and guide patients about the safe adoption of these tools.https://informatics.bmj.com/content/31/1/e101102.full |
| spellingShingle | Charlotte R Blease Cosima Locher Maria Hägglund Jens Gaab Kenneth D Mandl Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners BMJ Health & Care Informatics |
| title | Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners |
| title_full | Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners |
| title_fullStr | Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners |
| title_short | Generative artificial intelligence in primary care: an online survey of UK general practitioners |
| title_sort | generative artificial intelligence in primary care an online survey of uk general practitioners |
| url | https://informatics.bmj.com/content/31/1/e101102.full |
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