Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38749531›Full record

ArticleThe British journal of ophthalmology2024

Comparing generative and retrieval-based chatbots in answering patient questions regarding age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Kai Xiong Cheong, Chenxi Zhang, Tien-En Tan, Beau J Fenner, Wendy Meihua Wong, Kelvin Yc Teo, Ya Xing Wang, Sobha Sivaprasad, Pearse A Keane, Cecilia Sungmin Lee and 6 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in The British journal of ophthalmology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  6. [Application of large language models in health education for patients with pediatric cataract].Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Kai Xiong CheongSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0001-9302-1107
Chenxi ZhangChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9257-1270
Tien-En TanSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0002-9869-5159
Beau J FennerSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
Wendy Meihua WongDepartment of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Kelvin Yc TeoSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
Ya Xing WangBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0003-2749-7793
Sobha SivaprasadMoorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Pearse A KeaneMedical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Cecilia Sungmin LeeDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1994-7213
Aaron Y LeeDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Chui Ming Gemmy CheungSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0003-3358-3516
Tien Yin WongTsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Yun-Gyung CheongSungkyunkwan University, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Su Jeong Song *Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Yih Chung Tham *Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore thamyc@nus.edu.sg.ORCID 0000-0002-6752-797X

Funding

Aging eyes and aging brains in studying alzheimer's disease: Modern ophthalmic data collection in the adult changes in thought (ACT) studyR01AG060942 · NIA · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Cecilia Sungmin Lee · 2019 to 2026
$39.4M
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG060942
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

aimsTo compare the performance of generative versus retrieval-based chatbots in answering patient inquiries regarding age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

methodsWe evaluated four chatbots: generative models (ChatGPT-4, ChatGPT-3.5 and Google Bard) and a retrieval-based model (OcularBERT) in a cross-sectional study. Their response accuracy to 45 questions (15 AMD, 15 DR and 15 others) was evaluated and compared. Three masked retinal specialists graded the responses using a three-point Likert scale: either 2 (good, error-free), 1 (borderline) or 0 (poor with significant inaccuracies). The scores were aggregated, ranging from 0 to 6. Based on majority consensus among the graders, the responses were also classified as 'Good', 'Borderline' or 'Poor' quality.

resultsOverall, ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-3.5 outperformed the other chatbots, both achieving median scores (IQR) of 6 (1), compared with 4.5 (2) in Google Bard, and 2 (1) in OcularBERT (all p ≤8.4×10

conclusionChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-3.5 demonstrated superior performance, followed by Google Bard and OcularBERT. Generative chatbots are potentially capable of answering domain-specific questions outside their original training. Further validation studies are still required prior to real-world implementation.

Indexed as

Diabetic RetinopathyMacular DegenerationCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePatient Education as TopicSurveys and QuestionnairesMaculaPublic healthRetina

Identifiers

PMID38749531
PMCPMC11716104

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.