Content Validity of AI-Generated Medical Information on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): A Comparative Analysis of ChatGPT-4 and Gemini 1.5 Pro

Background : IPF is characterized by progressive declining respiratory function and quality of life, with high mortality. Large language models (LLMs) produce coherent medical information, but their accuracy, readability, and adherence to IPF guidelines remain unconfirmed. Aim: To evaluate the reliability and accuracy of LLMs in generating medically and clinically relevant content related to IPF. Methods: A comparative analysis of ChatGPT-4 and Gemini 1.5 Pro responses about IPF-related 23 questions from ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT guidelines was conducted. Six independent ILD experts assessed responses for accuracy (DISCERN), reliability (JAMA Benchmark Criteria), readability (Flesch-Kincaid), and guidelines adherence. Mann-Whitney U tests and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to compare model performance. Results: Both LLMs provided partially sufficient responses, with a median JAMA Benchmark score of 2 for both models (p=0.24). Gemini 1.5 Pro generated higher-quality treatment-related responses compared to ChatGPT-4, as reflected by significantly higher DISCERN scores of 56 and 43, respectively (p