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Use of AI-Assisted Technologies

Evidence-Based Practice has adopted the following policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in scholarly publishing, consistent with the guiding principles of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the joint editorial Use of AI in Family Medicine Publications.

Author Use of AI-Assisted Technologies

  • Authors must disclose any use of AI-assisted technologies in preparing their manuscripts. AI use must be reported during manuscript submission and documented in the Disclosures section of the manuscript template, immediately before the References section, identifying the AI tool used and describing how it was used.
  • Consistent with U.S. copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 102) and guidance from the U.S. Copyright Office, manuscripts must contain original human-authored expression eligible for copyright protection. AI may assist with approved editing, grammar, clarity, formatting, and other activities but may not independently draft or generate manuscript prose for inclusion as the author's own writing. Authors must retain sufficient original human authorship and the rights necessary to grant or transfer publication rights to the journal.
  • Authors must consult FPIN's AI Use and Disclosure Resource Template for examples of approved AI uses and suggested disclosure language. Any proposed use not specifically addressed in the resource template requires prior approval from Evidence-Based Practice at [email protected].
  • AI tools cannot be credited as authors because they cannot be held accountable for the integrity, accuracy, and originality of scholarly work. Authors remain fully responsible for reviewing and verifying all AI-assisted material, including its accuracy, completeness, originality, and potential bias.
  • AI may assist authors in understanding scientific literature, clarifying research methods and statistical concepts, identifying potential study limitations, and organizing information. However, authors must independently verify AI-generated information against original sources and retain responsibility for critical appraisal, interpretation of findings, determination of the strength of evidence, and clinical conclusions.
  • Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are free from plagiarism, fabricated or inaccurate references, and unsupported claims. All references must be independently verified against original sources, and AI-generated material cannot be cited as a primary source.
  • Authors must respect copyright and licensing restrictions when using AI technologies. Uploading copyrighted full-text articles or substantial excerpts to AI platforms without appropriate authorization, licensing rights, or another valid legal basis is prohibited. Access to copyrighted material through an institutional subscription does not necessarily authorize its use in external AI platforms.

FPIN's Use of AI-Assisted Technologies

FPIN selectively uses AI-assisted technologies to support editorial processes, scholarly activities, and educational resources. AI use is subject to appropriate confidentiality, copyright, and data protection safeguards. All substantive editorial evaluations and publication decisions remain the responsibility of qualified human editors. AI-assisted outputs are subject to appropriate human review and verification.


FPIN permits authorized, human-supervised AI assistance in editorial workflows but does not permit AI to independently determine manuscript quality or publication decisions.


Evidence-Based Practice will periodically review this policy as AI technologies, copyright law, and professional publishing standards evolve.

 

Questions? Please email us at [email protected] or call us at (573) 256-2066.