{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T17:04:19Z","timestamp":1786122259874,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784246400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of three most popular large language models (LLMs)\u2014Claude Opus 4.6, ChatGPT Thinking 5.4 and DeepSeek v3.2 in answering frequently asked questions (FAQs) about scoliosis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>20 scoliosis related questions (four categories, five questions in each category) were submitted to each LLM. A panel of 9 experts (two spine surgeons, two pediatric orthopedic surgeons and five physical therapists, all blinded to the LLMs and responses) rated independently each response generated by LLMs on a 6 points Likert scale (1 as strongly disagree to 6 as strongly agree). 540 total ratings were collected. Intergroup comparisons were conducted by Kruskal Wallis test and Mann Whitney U pairwise tests. Paired question level analysis was achieved by Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed rank comparisons.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Claude\u2019s score was 5.53\u202f\u00b1\u202f0.76 much higher than both ChatGPT (4.84\u202f\u00b1\u202f0.86,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001) and DeepSeek (4.86\u202f\u00b1\u202f0.84,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), but no difference was found between ChatGPT and DeepSeek (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.749). Claude performed on top for 19 of 20 questions (95%) and was favored by 7 of 9 reviewers. Consistency of Claude was also highest [CV\u202f=\u202f13.8% vs. 17.9% (ChatGPT) and 17.2% (DeepSeek)].\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Although all three LLMs achieved favorable overall ratings (&amp;gt;4.8\/6), Claude performed significantly better than ChatGPT and DeepSeek for scoliosis FAQs taking into account its higher accuracy and consistency. Within the scope of the present evaluation, Claude demonstrated the strongest overall performance among the three LLMs tested.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1873062","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T05:42:53Z","timestamp":1784266973000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Evaluating large language models as tools for public health education on scoliosis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Yi chen","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xuanyan","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Administration, School of Medicine, Shanghai Children\u2019s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mengjie","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fangchun","family":"Jin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaohan","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zhaotong First People\u2019s Hospital","place":["Zhaotong, Yunnan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yi","family":"Luo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1186\/s13013-017-0145-8","article-title":"SOSORT guidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth","volume":"13","author":"Negrini","year":"2016","journal-title":"Scoliosis Spinal Disord"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1038\/nrdp.2015.30","article-title":"Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis","volume":"1","author":"Cheng","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nat Rev Dis Primers"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1527","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(08)60658-3","article-title":"Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis","volume":"371","author":"Weinstein","year":"2008","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref4","first-page":"19","article-title":"Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: common questions and answers","volume":"101","author":"Kuznia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am Fam Physician"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1233","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMsr2214184","article-title":"Benefits, limits, and risks of GPT-4 as an AI Chatbot for medicine","volume":"388","author":"Lee","year":"2023","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1930","DOI":"10.1038\/s41591-023-02448-8","article-title":"Large language models in medicine","volume":"29","author":"Thirunavukarasu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nat Med"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1001\/jamainternmed.2023.1838","article-title":"Comparing physician and artificial intelligence Chatbot responses to patient questions posted to a public social media forum","volume":"183","author":"Ayers","year":"2023","journal-title":"JAMA Intern Med"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e45312","DOI":"10.2196\/45312","article-title":"How does ChatGPT perform on the United States medical licensing examination (USMLE)? The implications of large language models for medical education and knowledge assessment","volume":"9","author":"Gilson","year":"2023","journal-title":"JMIR Med Educ"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1512","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa1307337","article-title":"Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis","volume":"369","author":"Weinstein","year":"2013","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2017.19342","article-title":"Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: US preventive services task force recommendation statement","volume":"319","author":"Grossman","year":"2018","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1204","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-014-3241-y","article-title":"Active self-correction and task-oriented exercises reduce spinal deformity and improve quality of life in subjects with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. results of a randomised controlled trial","volume":"23","author":"Monticone","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur Spine J"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1075","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-025-09315-2","article-title":"Let\u2019s chat (GPT) about adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: accuracy and reliability of chat responses to frequently asked questions","volume":"26","author":"Giray","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Musculoskelet Disord"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"416","DOI":"10.1177\/18632521251359098","article-title":"Comparing the effectiveness of generative AI technology in commonly asked scoliosis questions","volume":"19","author":"Suresh","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Child Orthop"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"422","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-025-09166-4","article-title":"Evaluating ChatGPT-4.0\u2019s accuracy and potential in idiopathic scoliosis conservative treatment: a preliminary study on clarity, validity, and expert perceptions","volume":"35","author":"Negrini","year":"2026","journal-title":"Eur Spine J"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"473","DOI":"10.5435\/JAAOS-D-24-00297","article-title":"Artificial intelligence promotes the dunning kruger effect: evaluating ChatGPT answers to frequently asked questions about adolescent idiopathic scoliosis","volume":"33","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Am Acad Orthop Surg"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1007\/s00590-025-04198-4","article-title":"Evaluation of the reliability, usefulness, quality and readability of chatgpt\u2019s responses on scoliosis","volume":"35","author":"\u00c7\u0131rac\u0131o\u011flu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Traumatology"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1377","DOI":"10.1007\/s43390-025-01087-y","article-title":"Patient education strategies in pediatric orthopaedics: using ChatGPT to answer frequently asked questions on scoliosis","volume":"13","author":"Lieu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Spine Deform"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1007\/s43390-025-01169-x","article-title":"Evaluation of google and ChatGPT responses to common patient questions about scoliosis","volume":"14","author":"Tekin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Spine Deform"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35454","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-19370-3","article-title":"Evaluating the readability and quality of AI-generated scoliosis education materials: a comparative analysis of five language models","volume":"15","author":"Zhao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e648","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wneu.2024.02.101","article-title":"Will ChatGPT be able to replace a spine surgeon in the clinical setting","volume":"185","author":"Chalhoub","year":"2024","journal-title":"World Neurosurg"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123755","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wneu.2025.123755","article-title":"Comparing ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 in low back pain patient education: addressing strengths, limitations, and psychosocial challenges","volume":"196","author":"Tabanli","year":"2025","journal-title":"World Neurosurg"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.1186\/s13102-026-01675-z","article-title":"Large language models in sports injury care: a comparative expert evaluation of GPT-4o and GPT-5","volume":"18","author":"Kaya","year":"2026","journal-title":"BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation"}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1943276","type":"correction","label":"Correction","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786060800000}}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1873062\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T09:22:42Z","timestamp":1786094562000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1873062\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"references-count":22,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1873062"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1873062","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"article-number":"1873062"}}