Pre-Visit AI Symptom-Checking and Shared Decision-Making in Spine Physical Therapy

Artificial intelligence (AI) symptom-checking tools, including large language models such as ChatGPT, are increasingly used by patients before they seek care. These tools may shape patients' beliefs about their diagnosis, how serious they think their condition is, and when they decide to seek treatment. It is not yet known how this pre-visit AI use affects the initial physical therapy encounter for spine-related problems. This prospective observational cohort study examines whether prior use of AI symptom-checking tools influences the first physical therapy evaluation in adults presenting with spine-related musculoskeletal complaints (neck, thoracic, or low back pain, with or without radicular symptoms). Consecutive patients attending an outpatient physical therapy clinic for a new evaluation are grouped as AI users or non-AI users based on whether they used such a tool for their current complaint in the previous 30 days. The primary outcome is shared decision-making, measured with the SDM-Q-9 immediately after the initial evaluation. Secondary outcomes include stage of presentation, agreement between the patient's expected diagnosis and the clinician's classification, baseline pain and disability, functional performance, and clinical outcomes at 2 and 6 weeks. The investigators hypothesize that prior AI use is associated with differences in shared decision-making and in how patients present for care.

This description comes directly from the study's public registry record.

Mariam A Ibrahim Principal investigator  ·  +20 10 01539399  ·  Mariam.A.ibrahim@med.aun.edu.eg

Always discuss trial participation with your own doctor first.

Save your interest here for when the public record changes — results posted, or the study's status changes. Email alerts for this study aren't switched on yet.

We keep this only about this public record, and never email you without alerts being switched on. Want it removed at any time? Email hello@eichor.com. Never medical advice. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.