The Application of ChatGPT in Medicine: A Scoping Review and Bibliometric Analysis

ChatGPT has a wide range of applications in the medical field. Therefore, this review aims to define the key issues and provide a comprehensive view of the literature based on the application of ChatGPT in medicine.

This scope follows Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework. A comprehensive literature search of publications (30 November 2022 to 16 August 2023) was conducted. Six databases were searched and relevant references were systematically catalogued. Attention was focused on the general characteristics of the articles, their fields of application, and the advantages and disadvantages of using ChatGPT. Descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis methods were used for data analysis.

Of the 3426 studies, 247 met the criteria for inclusion in this review. The majority of articles (31.17%) were from the United States. Editorials (43.32%) ranked first, followed by experimental studys (11.74%). The potential applications of ChatGPT in medicine are varied, with the largest number of studies (45.75%) exploring clinical practice, including assisting with clinical decision support and providing disease information and medical advice. This was followed by medical education (27.13%) and scientific research (16.19%). Particularly noteworthy in the discipline statistics were radiology, surgery and dentistry at the top of the list. However, ChatGPT in medicine also faces issues of data privacy, inaccuracy and plagiarism.

The application of ChatGPT in medicine focuses on different disciplines and general application scenarios. ChatGPT has a paradoxical nature: it offers significant advantages, but at the same time raises great concerns about its application in healthcare settings. Therefore, it is imperative to develop theoretical frameworks that not only address its widespread use in healthcare but also facilitate a comprehensive assessment. In addition, these frameworks should contribute to the development of strict and effective guidelines and regulatory measures.