Large language model usage guidelines in Korean medical journals: a survey using human-artificial intelligence...

Area of Science:

• Medical publishing
• Artificial intelligence in research
• Academic ethics

Background:

• Large language models (LLMs) present ethical and practical challenges in academic publishing.
• This study investigates the current state of AI guidelines in Korean medical journals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prevalence and content of AI guidelines in Korean medical journals.
• To inform future policy development for responsible AI use.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed the top 100 Korean medical journals based on the Hirsh index.
• Analyzed author guidelines for AI-related content using human and AI screening.
• Extracted and compared key components of LLM policies and analyzed journal characteristics.

Main Results:

• Only 18% of journals had LLM guidelines, but adoption rose to 57.1% by Q1 2024.
• High-impact journals were more likely to adopt AI guidelines.
• Policies mandated AI tool disclosure, prohibited AI authorship, emphasized human responsibility, and discouraged AI-generated content.

Conclusions:

• LLM guideline adoption in Korean medical journals lags behind international trends but is increasing.
• Existing guidelines align with international standards regarding AI authorship and disclosure.
• Greater standardization and collaboration are essential for ethical AI implementation in medical research.