Question 1–: “How Do I Explain Cancer to a Child?”Response from ChatGPT (OpenAI, Accessed August, 2024) (Unedited Output, Only Translated)

“Explaining cancer to a child can be challenging, but it’s important to be honest, use age-appropriate language and offer comfort and support. Here are some tips on how to approach the subject:

Use simple, clear language: Avoid complex medical terms. You can explain cancer as a kind of ‘fault’ in the body’s cells, which start to grow differently and don’t stop as they should.

Make clear comparisons: Saying that these abnormal cells are like ‘weeds in a garden’ can help the child visualize how they can prevent the body from working well. Explainthat the treatment may make the person feel tired or ill, but it is a way of helping the body get rid of the ‘weeds’.

Offer emotional reassurance: It’s important to reassure the person that cancer is no one’s fault, that it’s not contagious, and that the doctors and family are doing their best to care for the person.

Encourage questions: Allow the child to ask questions and express feelings. This can help them understand the situation better and feel safer.

Maintain routines: Maintaining the child’s daily routine as much as possible can help provide a sense of normalcy and security.

Use resources: Children’s books and videos on the subject can be useful. They are designed to explain cancer in a way that children can understand and process. When explaining cancer, the most important thing is to make the child feel supported and know that they can count on the adults around them for help and comfort.”

Response from Microsoft Copilot (Accessed August, 2024) (Unedited Output, Only Translated)

“Explaining cancer to a child can be a challenge, but it’s important to be honest and use simple, age-appropriate language. Here are some tips to help:

Use simple language: Explain that the body is made up of lots of little parts called cells. Sometimes some of these cells don’t work properly and start to grow out of control, forming what we call cancer.

Be honest but optimistic: It’s important to be honest about the disease and the treatment, but also to give hope. Tell them that doctors are doing everything they can to help them get better.

Prepare for change: Explain that the person with cancer may need many treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which can cause side effects such as tiredness or hair loss.

Encourage questions: Let the child ask questions and answer them as clearly as possible. This will help reduce fear and anxiety.

Use visual aids: Children’s books or videos can be useful to explain the condition in a way that the child understands better.

Remember that each child is unique and may react differently. Be available to talk and offer support whenever necessary. If you need more help, consider talking to a health professional or a psychologist who specializes in children.”

Response from Our Chatbot (Unedited Output, Only Translated)

“When explaining cancer to a child, it’s important to take their age and development into account. To help me, please tell me your child’s age!

Authors’ data—12 years old.

Children between the ages of 7 and 12 have a better understanding of cancer and how it affects the body. They also have a better understanding of what cells are and how treatments work. It’s easy to talk to your child about cancer as a disease in which some cells in the body grow out of control. The good news is that doctors have specific treatments to control or eliminate these cells. When talking to a child in this age group, don’t be afraid to mention the name ‘cancer’ and try not to leave out any information—children at this age can imagine things that aren’t real and even have thoughts that are worse than reality. It’s also normal for children at this age to be afraid of pain and physical changes, such as hair loss. It’s very important to be honest with your child about what might hurt and explain that these effects are only temporary. Children in this age group are likely to get information about cancer from other sources, such as school or the internet. It’s good for them to share what they’ve heard so they can talk about it and make sure they have all the facts. It’s great that children between the ages of 7 and 12 can prepare for medical procedures and routine changes in advance! This gives them time to adjust and ask questions. It also helps them cope with the idea that the treatment may affect their daily activities, such as going to school. It’s very important to keep the conversation open and let them share their concerns. It’s very important to show children of all ages lots of love and reassurance, especially when they’re going through something as difficult as this. Let them know that even though things are changing, their place in your heart remains the same. It’s very important to create a safe space for conversation and to let children know that it’s OK to feel what they’re feeling. When we do this, we can help them to feel less anxious and more relaxed.”

Comparative Analysis of ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Our Chatbot 1.

Readability: While ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot prioritize clarity by using concise language, bullet points, and direct phrasing to make information easier to read quickly, our chatbot uses a more elaborate narrative style. Although this may reduce reading speed, it can foster a deeper emotional connection and encourage user engagement. The extended format enables a more conversational tone and allows complex or distressing information to be introduced in a supportive way.

2.

Relevance: All three responses are relevant to the question. ChatGPT addresses both the emotional and practical aspects of the condition, offering guidance on maintaining routines and providing emotional support. Microsoft Copilot also provides contextually appropriate advice, particularly about emotional honesty and preparing for side effects. However, Our Chatbot focuses on the developmental stage of the child by asking for their age and tailoring the explanation accordingly.

3.

Consistency: All three chatbots demonstrate a consistent approach that aligns with the general guidelines for communicating serious topics to children. ChatGPT maintains a consistent tone and message, emphasizing honesty, emotional reassurance, and clarity. Microsoft Copilot also provides straightforward, supportive advice. Similarly, our chatbot closely follows developmental psychology principles, adapting its tone and content to match the cognitive and emotional capacity of the child’s age group.

4.

Informativeness: Thanks to its age-specific detail, our chatbot provides the most informative responses. It goes beyond general advice by anticipating children’s fears and misunderstandings and identifying potential sources of information, such as school or the internet. It then provides nuanced suggestions on how to handle these issues. Although ChatGPT is informative and uses practical suggestions to guide caregivers, it does not adapt the content for a specific age group. Microsoft Copilot provides the least detail; its advice is more general.

5.

Naturalness: ChatGPT’s responses are human-like, being both conversational and supportive. By contrast, Microsoft Copilot is clear but adopts a more neutral, clinical tone that is less emotionally engaging. Our chatbot uses emotionally sensitive language to strike a highly natural tone. It mirrors the way a caring adult might speak in real life, thereby enhancing the user’s emotional connection to the advice provided.

Question 2: “My Son Has Stage 4 Osteosarcoma. How Likely Is He to Survive?”Response from ChatGPT (OpenAI, Accessed August, 2024) (Unedited Output, Only Translated)

“I’m sorry to hear that you’re facing this difficult situation with your son. Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that can be particularly aggressive. When we talk about ‘stage 4’, it usually means thatcancerhas spread to other parts of the body, which can complicate treatment. Survival rates for osteosarcoma vary depending on several factors, including the extent of the disease, the response to treatment, the patient’s general health, among others. In general, stage 4 osteosarcoma presents significant challenges, as metastatic disease is more difficult to treat effectively. Historically, statistics indicate that the 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic osteosarcoma is around 15% to 30%. However, it is important to emphasize that each case isunique,and these statistics may not apply directly to your child’s case. Advances in treatment, such as targeted therapies and new chemotherapy protocols, have helped to improve the outlook in some cases. It is essential that you talk to the medical team that is looking after your child to get a more accurate assessment based on the specific characteristics of their illness and to discuss the treatment options available. They will be able to provide you with more detailed and personalized informationaboutyour child’s situation. If you have any further questions or need more information, I’m here to help.

Explaining cancer to a child can be challenging, but it’s important to be honest and use simple, age-appropriate language.

Here are some tips that can help:

Use simple language: Explain that the body is made up of lots of little parts called cells. Sometimes, some of these cells don’t work properly and start to grow in an uncontrolled, forming what we call cancer1.

Be honest but optimistic: It’s important to be honest about the disease and treatment, but also to convey hope. convey hope. Tell them that the doctors are doing everything they can to help the sick person get better.

Prepare for changes: Explain that a person with cancer may need many treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which can cause side effects such as tiredness or hair loss.

Encourage questions: Let the child ask questions and answer them as clearly as possible. This helps to reduce fear and anxiety.

Use visual aids: Children’s books or videos can be useful for explaining the disease in a way that the child understands better.

Remember that each child is unique and can react differently. Be available to talk and offer support whenever necessary. If you need more help, consider talking to a health professional or psychologist specializing in children.”

Response from Microsoft Copilot (Accessed August, 2024) (Unedited Output, Only Translated)

“I’m sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis. Stage 4 osteosarcoma, also known as metastatic osteosarcoma, means thatcancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or other organs1. The 5-year survival rate for metastatic osteosarcoma is around 27%. This means that about 27 out of every 100 people diagnosed with metastatic osteosarcoma will be alive five years after diagnosis. However, it’s important to remember that these statistics are based on historical data and each case is unique. Factors such as response to treatment, the patient’s general health and advances in treatment can all affect prognosis. Talk to your child’s doctor for a more accurate andpersonalizedassessment. They will be able to provide detailed information about your child’s specific case and discuss the treatment options available. If you need more support or information, I’m here to help.”

Response from Our Chatbot (Unedited Output, Only Translated)

“I know this is a very difficult time for you and it’s natural to look for answers in numbers. But every case isunique,and you need to trust that your son has a wonderful, dedicated team who are doing everything they can to give him the best possible treatment and care. Right now, you need to focus on making sure your child feels comfortable and supported. If you have any questions about the treatment or how you can help on a day-to-day basis, don’t hesitate toask!”.

1.

Readability: ChatGPT provides well-structured, easy-to-read responses that use clear language and simple explanations of medical terminology. Microsoft Copilot also generates concise and direct sentences. In contrast, our Chatbot adopts a more conversational and emotionally attuned tone. Its narrative format provides a more natural reading experience and offers emotional support.

2.

Relevance: Both initial responses aim to address the user’s primary concern, which is the likelihood of survival in stage 4 osteosarcoma. Both ChatGPT and Copilot provide direct answers to this question, offering general survival statistics and recommending that users consult healthcare professionals for personalized information. By contrast, our chatbot offers a response that validates the parent’s feelings and encourages them to focus on what they can control in the present moment, such as providing care and support, being present, and trusting the medical team.

3.

Consistency: Both ChatGPT and Copilot are consistent with current medical literature, presenting survival statistics and emphasizing the importance of personalized medical advice. While this aligns with clinical sources, communicating prognosis data directly, particularly in the absence of professional emotional support, may not be the most appropriate approach when speaking to parents who are facing a highly distressing diagnosis. In contrast, Our Chatbot provides a psychosocially informed response that prioritizes emotional support.

4.

Informativeness: Of the three, ChatGPT is the most informative. It discusses survival rates, explains the implications of stage 4, and highlights the role of individual variation. It also mentions emerging treatments. Microsoft Copilot also provides information, albeit in a more concise and neutral manner. While both models deliver concrete data, they may assume a level of emotional readiness that not all users possess. In contrast, our Chatbot focuses on psychosocial support, emphasizing an equally important aspect of informativeness grounded in users’ emotional needs rather than clinical statistics.

5.

Naturalness: ChatGPT combines emotional sensitivity with medical explanations. By contrast, Copilot is more neutral and distant. Our chatbot stands out thanks to its natural, human-like manner of speaking and its acknowledgement of how difficult the situation is. This kind of tone can make parents feel more supported.