Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40034889›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Evaluating the Quality and Readability of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbot Responses in the Management of Achilles Tendon Rupture.

Christopher E Collins, Peter A Giammanco, Monica Guirgus, Mikayla Kricfalusi, Richard C Rice, Rusheel Nayak, David Ruckle, Ryan Filler, Joseph G Elsissy

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
14citing papers in PubMed
–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

14 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  3. An expert-based assessment of the quality, reliability, understandability, and readability of ChatGPT responses on cerebral palsy.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2026
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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

9 authors.

Christopher E CollinsOrthopedic Surgery, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA.
Peter A GiammancoOrthopedic Surgery, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA.
Monica GuirgusOrthopedic Surgery, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA.
Mikayla KricfalusiOrthopedic Surgery, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA.
Richard C RiceDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, USA.
Rusheel NayakDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, USA.
David RuckleFoot and Ankle, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City, USA.
Ryan FillerFoot and Ankle, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.
Joseph G ElsissyOrthopedic Surgery, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe rise of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative chatbots like ChatGPT (OpenAI, San Francisco, CA, USA), has revolutionized many fields, including healthcare. Patients have gained the ability to prompt chatbots to generate purportedly accurate and individualized healthcare content. This study analyzed the readability and quality of answers to Achilles tendon rupture questions from six generative AI chatbots to evaluate and distinguish their potential as patient education resources.

methodsThe six AI models used were ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4, Gemini 1.0 (previously Bard; Google, Mountain View, CA, USA), Gemini 1.5 Pro, Claude (Anthropic, San Francisco, CA, USA) and Grok (xAI, Palo Alto, CA, USA) without prior prompting. Each was asked 10 common patient questions about Achilles tendon rupture, determined by five orthopaedic surgeons. The readability of generative responses was measured using Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level, Gunning Fog, and SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook). The response quality was subsequently graded using the DISCERN criteria by five blinded orthopaedic surgeons.

resultsGemini 1.0 generated statistically significant differences in ease of readability (closest to average American reading level) than responses from ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4, and Claude. Additionally, mean DISCERN scores demonstrated significantly higher quality of responses from Gemini 1.0 (63.0±5.1) and ChatGPT 4 (63.8±6.2) than ChatGPT 3.5 (53.8±3.8), Claude (55.0±3.8), and Grok (54.2±4.8). However, the overall quality (question 16, DISCERN) of each model was averaged and graded at an above-average level (range, 3.4-4.4). DISCUSSION AND

conclusionOur results indicate that generative chatbots can potentially serve as patient education resources alongside physicians. Although some models lacked sufficient content, each performed above average in overall quality. With the lowest readability and highest DISCERN scores, Gemini 1.0 outperformed ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok and potentially emerged as the simplest and most reliable generative chatbot regarding management of Achilles tendon rupture.

Indexed as

achilles tearartificial intelligencedeep learningorthopedicssports medicine

Identifiers

PMID40034889
PMCPMC11872741

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.