Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40908014›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Utilisation of AI-driven chatbots for perioperative health information seeking: a descriptive qualitative study of orthopaedic patients and family members.

Tao Chen, Qiang Li, Deng Zhao, Wenjing Zhang, Yong Chen, Jindong Yang, Chun Pu, Qiang Fu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

8 authors.

Tao ChenDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China chentao2024123456@163.com fuqiang1878@outlook.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0023-1610
Qiang LiDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Deng ZhaoDepartment of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Wenjing ZhangHealth Management Center, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Yong ChenDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Jindong YangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Chun PuDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Qiang FuDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China chentao2024123456@163.com fuqiang1878@outlook.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aimed to explore orthopaedic patients' and families' experiences with artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots for perioperative health information, focusing on usability, effectiveness and perceptions.

designA descriptive qualitative design was employed.

settingThis study was conducted at a regional care centre for orthopaedics.

participantsWe recruited 13 participants (patients undergoing orthopaedic surgeries and family members) through purposive sampling. Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted to capture participants' experiences and insights. Data collection was concluded when data saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim within 24 hours. Transcripts were verified and analysed using the Colaizzi's data analysis method.

resultsFour themes emerged from interviews, including: (1) preference of AI chatbots over search engines; (2) improved accessibility and quality of information; (3) preference of AI over human interactions and (4) importance of effective prompting.

conclusionsAI-driven chatbots offer a promising adjunct to perioperative patient education by delivering immediate, tailored guidance that overcomes the limitations of conventional search engines and busy clinical settings. Study participants valued chatbots' efficient, context-sensitive retrieval, professional-level advice and non-judgmental interactions, which fostered trust and reduced anxiety. Effective prompting emerged as a key user skill, directly shaping response relevance and accuracy. Chatbot-generated health information should be regularly reviewed for accuracy. Structured tutorials may be offered for user capacity building.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceFamilyInformation Seeking BehaviorOrthopedic ProceduresAdultAgedFemaleGenerative Artificial IntelligenceHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchArtificial IntelligenceDigital TechnologyeHealthORTHOPAEDIC & TRAUMA SURGERYQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Identifiers

PMID40908014
PMCPMC12414206

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.