What’s the best way to use ChatGPT for health questions?

You may have heard about ChatGPT in the news or on social media. ChatGPT is a publicly available AI chatbot that is free, easy to use and gives quick, human-like responses to user questions and requests.

The information on this site will help you think about how to use ChatGPT safely for health questions. Check out the video and images below.

Frequently asked questions

  • No, do not use ChatGPT in an emergency. Call 000.

  • Yes, ChatGPT can be useful for answering general health questions such as definitions or a description of a health condition.

  • No. ChatGPT will often sound confident, even when it is incorrect. Do not use its tone to decide whether you trust an answer.

  • No. Sometimes ChatGPT will make up references that do not exist, or it will tell you about real references that do not actually answer your question! Some ChatGPT and other AI tools might give you links to studies, but you would still need to check these links to make sure the answer is correct.

  • It is better to use other information sources as well. Make sure you use other sources that you trust. You could use ChatGPT to help you understand what different side-effects mean.

  • No. ChatGPT does not have your full history, so it may not be able to tell you which treatment option is best for you. The best option is to talk to a health professional.

Check your understanding

Let’s apply what you learned so far. Imagine that someone in your family has just found out they have gout. The doctor has asked them to get some blood tests done including a test for uric acid. They also mentioned that gout can affect your kidneys. You want to help them find out more about this health condition. You’re thinking about using ChatGPT to get you started.

For each of the questions below, would you feel comfortable asking ChatGPT ? Why or why not?

  • Answer: Try asking ChatGPT. This is a general health question.

  • Answer: Try asking ChatGPT. This is a general health question.

  • Answer: Avoid asking ChatGPT. This is not a general health question. Asking for advice about which treatment to use may not be safe.

  • Answer: Try asking ChatGPT. This is a general health question.

  • Answer: Avoid asking ChatGPT. This is not a general health question. ChatGPT may not have enough context about the situation. Often doctors use information from blood tests alongside other information about the patient to help them interpret the results.

  • Answer: Try asking ChatGPT. It's ok to ask ChatGPT to summarise information in simple terms, from sources you trust. Be aware that they may miss some key points.

  • Answer: Avoid asking ChatGPT. Even if you describe the symptoms, ChatGPT might not have the full picture and you can't rely on it for an accurate diagnosis.

Read our evaluation of these resources, published in npj Digital Medicine.

Please use the following citation: Ayre, J., Taba, M., Nickel, B., Edlund, G., Vu, T., Yan, J., ... & McCaffery, K. J. (2025). Can co-designed educational interventions help consumers think critically about asking ChatGPT health questions? Results from a randomised-controlled trial. npj Digital Medicine, 8(1), 672.