JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Generative AI Chatbots may be useful tools for supporting shared prostate cancer screening decisions, but the information produced by these tools sometimes lack quality or credibility. ‘Prostate Cancer Info’ is a custom GPT chatbot developed to provide plain-language PrCA information only from websites of key authorities on cancer and peer-reviewed literature.

Objective:

To evaluate the accuracy, completeness, and readability of ‘Prostate Cancer Info’s responses to frequently asked PrCA screening questions.

Methods:

Twenty-three frequently asked PrCA questions were individually input into ‘Prostate Cancer Info.’ Responses were recorded in Microsoft Word and reviewed by two raters for their accuracy and completeness. Readability of content was determined by pasting responses into an online Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease Scores calculator.

Results:

Responses to all questions were accurate and culturally appropriate. Seventeen of twenty-three questions (74%) had complete responses. The average readability of responses was 64.5 (written at an 8th-grade level).

Conclusions:

Generative AI chatbots, such as Prostate Cancer Info, are great starting places for learning about PrCA screening and preparing to engage in shared decision making but should not be used as independent sources of PrCA information because key information may be omitted. Men are encouraged to use these tools to complement information received form a healthcare provider.