Abstract
Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into orthopaedic research and practice, offering transformative capabilities in diagnostics, treatment planning, and systematic data analysis. However, its adoption raises ethical, methodological, and policy challenges, particularly regarding transparency, authorship, and reproducibility.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the current policies of orthopaedic and sports medicine (OSM) journals concerning AI use in research, focusing on transparency requirements, ethical considerations, and reporting standards.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional review of the “Instructions for Authors” from the top 100 orthopaedic and sports medicine journals ranked by the 2023 SCImago Journal Rank indicator. Data on AI-specific reporting guidelines, policies on AI-generated content, images, and authorship were extracted. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were performed to assess trends and associations.
Results: Of the 100 journals analyzed, 78% referenced AI in their guidelines, primarily addressing authorship criteria and disclosure requirements. Only 2% endorsed AI-specific reporting guidelines, while 22% lacked any AI-related policy. Journals were more likely to permit AI for content generation (66%) than for image generation (43%). Transparency regarding AI use during manuscript preparation was required by 78% of journals, aligning with International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations.
Conclusion: Despite widespread acknowledgment of AI’s role in research, the adoption of AI-specific reporting guidelines remains rare, underscoring a critical need for standardized policies. OSM journals should establish clear and comprehensive AI-related guidelines to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and ethical rigor in AI-integrated research.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the current policies of orthopaedic and sports medicine (OSM) journals concerning AI use in research, focusing on transparency requirements, ethical considerations, and reporting standards.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional review of the “Instructions for Authors” from the top 100 orthopaedic and sports medicine journals ranked by the 2023 SCImago Journal Rank indicator. Data on AI-specific reporting guidelines, policies on AI-generated content, images, and authorship were extracted. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were performed to assess trends and associations.
Results: Of the 100 journals analyzed, 78% referenced AI in their guidelines, primarily addressing authorship criteria and disclosure requirements. Only 2% endorsed AI-specific reporting guidelines, while 22% lacked any AI-related policy. Journals were more likely to permit AI for content generation (66%) than for image generation (43%). Transparency regarding AI use during manuscript preparation was required by 78% of journals, aligning with International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations.
Conclusion: Despite widespread acknowledgment of AI’s role in research, the adoption of AI-specific reporting guidelines remains rare, underscoring a critical need for standardized policies. OSM journals should establish clear and comprehensive AI-related guidelines to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and ethical rigor in AI-integrated research.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| State | Published - 14 Feb 2025 |
| Event | Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2025 - Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, United States Duration: 10 Feb 2025 → 14 Feb 2025 https://medicine.okstate.edu/research/research_days.html |
Conference
| Conference | Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2025 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Tulsa |
| Period | 10/02/25 → 14/02/25 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- Artificial Intelligence
- reporting guidelines
- authorship
- orthopaedic surgery
- transparency