Abstract
Introduction/Objectives: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing numerous fields, including nephrology. However, its integration raises critical concerns that may arise, such as its ethical use, transparency, and clinical implementation. Effective policy development in nephrology is important due to the prevalence of kidney disease and the lower rate of research produced in nephrology compared to other specialties. The objective of our study is to evaluate nephrology journals policies regarding the use of AI in research.
Methods: We reviewed the manuscript submission guidelines of the 77 highest ranked peer-reviewed nephrology journals based on the 2023 SCImago Journal Rankings. Authors extracted relevant AI related policies from the journal's Instruction for Authors. Extracted information included authorship criteria, publication policies, and the use of AI for content and image generation. Analysis included descriptive statistics using RStudio and R(version 4.2.1).
Results: Our search initially identified 77 journals, with 72 meeting inclusion criteria. Among these, 40 (55.6%) journals explicitly prohibited AI in their instructions for authors. AI generated manuscript writing was prohibited in 35 (48.6%) journals and AI generated images were prohibited in 16 (22.2%) journals. No nephrology journals mentioned established AI reporting guidelines.
Conclusions: While many nephrology journals acknowledge the growing role of AI in research, their policies remain inconsistent, with few requiring the adherence to established reporting guidelines. To promote transparent, replicable, and ethical research with the use of AI, we recommend that nephrology journals address the use of AI in their instructions for authors and adopt established guidelines to strengthen nephrology’s body of literature.
Methods: We reviewed the manuscript submission guidelines of the 77 highest ranked peer-reviewed nephrology journals based on the 2023 SCImago Journal Rankings. Authors extracted relevant AI related policies from the journal's Instruction for Authors. Extracted information included authorship criteria, publication policies, and the use of AI for content and image generation. Analysis included descriptive statistics using RStudio and R(version 4.2.1).
Results: Our search initially identified 77 journals, with 72 meeting inclusion criteria. Among these, 40 (55.6%) journals explicitly prohibited AI in their instructions for authors. AI generated manuscript writing was prohibited in 35 (48.6%) journals and AI generated images were prohibited in 16 (22.2%) journals. No nephrology journals mentioned established AI reporting guidelines.
Conclusions: While many nephrology journals acknowledge the growing role of AI in research, their policies remain inconsistent, with few requiring the adherence to established reporting guidelines. To promote transparent, replicable, and ethical research with the use of AI, we recommend that nephrology journals address the use of AI in their instructions for authors and adopt established guidelines to strengthen nephrology’s body of literature.
| 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
- authorship
- reporting guidelines
- transparency
- Nephrology