Large language models in medicine: A review of current clinical trials across healthcare applications.
review · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39561120.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000662 and PMC identifier 11575759.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
This review analyzes current clinical trials investigating large language models' (LLMs) applications in healthcare. We identified 27 trials (5 published and 22 ongoing) across 4 main clinical applications: patient care, data handling, decision support, and research assistance. Our analysis reveals diverse LLM uses, from clinical documentation to medical decision-making. Published trials show promise but highlight accuracy concerns. Ongoing studies explore novel applications like patient education and informed consent. Most trials occur in the United States of America and China. We discuss the challenges of evaluating rapidly evolving LLMs through clinical trials and identify gaps in current research. This review aims to inform future studies and guide the integration of LLMs into clinical practice.