The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Primary Prevention of Common Musculoskeletal Diseases

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of disability worldwide, with a growing burden across all demographics. With advancements in technology, conversational artificial intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT (OpenAI, San Francisco, CA) have become instrumental in disseminating health information. This study evaluated the effectiveness of ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4 in delivering primary prevention information for common MSDs, emphasizing that the study is focused on prevention and not on diagnosis. Methods: This mixed-methods study employed the CLEAR tool to assess the quality of responses from ChatGPT versions in terms of completeness, lack of false information, evidence support, appropriateness, and relevance. Responses were evaluated independently by two expert raters in a blinded manner. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and paired samples t-tests to compare the performance across versions. Results: ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 effectively provided primary prevention information, with overall performance ranging from satisfactory to excellent. Responses for low back pain, fractures, knee osteoarthritis, neck pain, and gout received excellent scores from both versions. Additionally, ChatGPT-4 was better than ChatGPT-3.5 in terms of completeness (p = 0.015), appropriateness (p = 0.007), and relevance (p = 0.036), and ChatGPT-4 performed better across most medical conditions (p = 0.010). Conclusions: ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4 are effective tools for disseminating primary prevention information for common MSDs, with ChatGPT-4 showing superior performance. This study underscores the potential of AI in enhancing public health strategies through reliable and accessible health communication. Advanced models such as ChatGPT-4 can effectively contribute to the primary prevention of MSDs by delivering high-quality health information, highlighting the role of AIs in addressing the global burden of chronic diseases. It is important to note that these AI tools are intended for preventive education purposes only and not for diagnostic use. Continuous improvements are necessary to fully harness the potential of AI in preventive medicine. Future studies should explore other AI platforms, languages, and secondary and tertiary prevention measures to maximize the utility of AIs in global health contexts.