AskTrip currently generates answers from content in the Trip Database. When little is available, we “back fill” using ChatGPT. While answers are clearly labelled, relying on ChatGPT alone (or mostly) doesn’t feel entirely comfortable.

Twenty years ago, when we answered clinical questions manually, we often had to search beyond Trip or Medline to find reliable evidence. That spirit of search expansion has inspired Beyond Trip (working name). If AskTrip finds little or no evidence in Trip, it will now automatically search other sources to strengthen the answer.

Our approach now searches both OpenAlex and Google Scholar – two vast, general academic databases. Even when limited to peer-reviewed medical journals, this still represents a huge increase in coverage compared to Trip alone.

Take one example question What psychiatric adverse effects are associated with the use of antileukotrienes in asthma treatment? that was asked today. AskTrip’s standard answer cited 2 references. With Beyond Trip, the system retrieved 11 references, including:

  • Adverse drug reactions of leukotriene receptor antagonists in children with asthma: a systematic review
  • Neuropsychiatric reactions with the use of montelukast
  • Psychiatric adverse effects of montelukast—a nationwide cohort study
  • Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions Associated with Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists Versus First Line Asthma Medications: A National Registry-Pharmacology Approach
  • Risk of psychiatric adverse events among montelukast users

Beyond Trip won’t activate for the majority of questions. But when AskTrip turns up little or no supporting evidence, it will automatically engage, taking around 60 seconds longer while drawing on a much broader pool of references.

We expect to release it within the next two weeks. Believe me, this is a major step forward for AskTrip 🙂