LLMs Improve Patient Understanding of Ultrasound Reports

Plain-language summary

This multicenter, patient-blinded, controlled evaluation assessed whether expert-reviewed artificial intelligence (AI)-simplified ultrasound reports improved patient- or guardian-reported understanding and reading experience compared with standard ultrasound reports. Routine ultrasound reports were completed through existing clinical processes. After completion of the routine report, participants were assigned to view either the standard report or an expert-reviewed plain-language version generated with a large language model workflow. The simplified report was intended only as a patient-facing communication aid. It did not replace the standard clinical report and did not alter ultrasound acquisition, diagnostic interpretation, treatment decisions, follow-up, or subsequent clinical management. Patient- or guardian-reported outcomes included cognitive workload, comprehension, report perception, and reading time. Expert review assessed whether AI-generated simplified reports preserved source meaning and identified factual errors, omissions, or unsupported additions before patient presentation.

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