A framework for human evaluation of large language models in healthcare derived from literature review.

TitleA framework for human evaluation of large language models in healthcare derived from literature review.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsTam TYu Chow, Sivarajkumar S, Kapoor S, Stolyar AV, Polanska K, McCarthy KR, Osterhoudt H, Wu X, Visweswaran S, Fu S, Mathur P, Cacciamani GE, Sun C, Peng Y, Wang Y
JournalNPJ Digit Med
Volume7
Issue1
Pagination258
Date Published2024 Sep 28
ISSN2398-6352
Abstract

With generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), particularly large language models (LLMs), continuing to make inroads in healthcare, assessing LLMs with human evaluations is essential to assuring safety and effectiveness. This study reviews existing literature on human evaluation methodologies for LLMs in healthcare across various medical specialties and addresses factors such as evaluation dimensions, sample types and sizes, selection, and recruitment of evaluators, frameworks and metrics, evaluation process, and statistical analysis type. Our literature review of 142 studies shows gaps in reliability, generalizability, and applicability of current human evaluation practices. To overcome such significant obstacles to healthcare LLM developments and deployments, we propose QUEST, a comprehensive and practical framework for human evaluation of LLMs covering three phases of workflow: Planning, Implementation and Adjudication, and Scoring and Review. QUEST is designed with five proposed evaluation principles: Quality of Information, Understanding and Reasoning, Expression Style and Persona, Safety and Harm, and Trust and Confidence.

DOI10.1038/s41746-024-01258-7
Alternate JournalNPJ Digit Med
PubMed ID39333376
PubMed Central IDPMC11437138
Grant ListUL1TR001857 / / U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) /
R01 LM014306 / LM / NLM NIH HHS / United States
R01LM014306 / / U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) /
R01 LM014573 / LM / NLM NIH HHS / United States
U24TR004111 / / U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) /