Postoperative Otoplasty Care With ChatGPT-4: A Study on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Patient Concern and Education

Abstract

Background: Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that is performed to alter the size, shape, or position of the ear by using permanent stitches. Its main purpose is to correct protruding ears, a condition known as prominauris. After the surgery, it is crucial to provide proper care to ensure successful recovery. However, obtaining timely medical advice can be difficult, especially in remote areas or places with limited resources. To address this issue, incorporating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools like Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT)-4 into postsurgical care could help fill the gap in patient education and support.

Aim: This study aims to assess whether ChatGPT4 can be a reliable, accurate, and effective method for answering the most common patient questions and concerns post-otoplasty. The main objective was to assess the AI chatbot's capacity to deliver precise, concise, and pertinent information, especially in situations where health care professionals are limited in availability.

Materials and methods: In this study, over 50 patients were engaged, and ChatGPT4 was employed to present the same 5 common postoperative questions post-otoplasty surgery care. The AI chatbot's responses were analyzed for accuracy, response time, clarity, and relevance.

Results: The chatbot could potentially provide timely assistance, answer questions, and address concerns related to postsurgical care in otoplasty. The responses exhibited a perfect accuracy rate of 100%, closely corresponding to existing medical guidelines.

Conclusion: This study explores the potential of AI-driven solutions to enhance patient education and support, especially in areas where access to health care professionals may be limited. However, professional medical advice is crucial in postoperative care and cannot be replaced by ChatGPT-4. By leveraging AI tools like chatbots, individuals in remote or resource-limited settings can potentially receive valuable information and guidance, contributing to successful rehabilitation and overall health care outcomes. Ethical considerations around the use of AI in health care must also be carefully addressed to ensure patient privacy, data security, and appropriate clinical oversight.