Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
Department of Medical Library and Information Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
3
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
5
Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in research and scientific publishing, improving efficiency. However, it raises ethical concerns regarding scientific integrity, authorship, and originality. This study aimed to identify the main ethical challenges of AI use in research publishing and to explore factors influencing its responsible use.
Methods
This scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) reporting guidelines. The review addressed two questions on the ethical challenges associated with AI use in research publishing and the factors influencing its ethical application. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase, supplemented by additional searches. Studies eligible for inclusion were original research articles published up to January 2025 with accessible full texts. Two reviewers independently screened the records and charted the data; disagreements were resolved through consultation with a third reviewer. Extracted data included study characteristics, aims, design, and key findings.
Results
The search retrieved 20 952 records, of which 20 were included after screening. The analysis identified 10 key ethical challenges for the use of AI in research publishing, which broadly relate to three overarching concerns: threats to scientific integrity, challenges to transparency and accountability in AI-assisted research processes, and governance gaps in policy and regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, factors influencing ethical AI use were grouped into 10 dimensions across individual, institutional, and structural levels that shape researchers’ behavior and publishing practices.
Conclusion
The responsible use of AI in scientific publishing requires a shift from ad hoc approaches to an integrated ethical, technical, and legal governance system. Since health policies and clinical guidelines rely on published evidence, the ethical integration of AI in scientific publishing is essential to ensure the reliability and transparency of health research. This study highlights the necessity of developing policies, regulatory frameworks, and ethical standards in this area.
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