Utilizing ChatGPT to Facilitate Referrals for Fetal Echocardiography

OpenAI's GPT-4 (artificial intelligence [AI]) is being studied for its use as a medical decision support tool. This research examines its accuracy in refining referrals for fetal echocardiography (FE) to improve early detection and outcomes related to congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Past FE data referred to our institution were evaluated separately by pediatric cardiologist, gynecologist (human experts [experts]), and AI, according to established guidelines. We compared experts and AI's agreement on referral necessity, with experts addressing discrepancies.

Total of 59 FE cases were addressed retrospectively. Cardiologist, gynecologist, and AI recommended performing FE in 47.5%, 49.2%, and 59.0% of cases, respectively. Comparing AI recommendations to experts indicated agreement of around 80.0% with both experts (p < 0.001). Notably, AI suggested more echocardiographies for minor CHD (64.7%) compared to experts (47.1%), and for major CHD, experts recommended performing FE in all cases (100%) while AI recommended in majority of cases (90.9%). Discrepancies between AI and experts are detailed and reviewed.

The evaluation found moderate agreement between AI and experts. Contextual misunderstandings and lack of specialized medical knowledge limit AI, necessitating clinical guideline guidance. Despite shortcomings, AI's referrals comprised 65% of minor CHD cases versus experts 47%, suggesting its potential as a cautious decision aid for clinicians.