Artificial intelligence in rheumatology and paediatric rheumatology: insights from an international survey by EMEUNET

Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising medicine.The aim of this study was to detail its use, opinions, knowledge, and concerns in rheumatology and paediatric rheumatology.Methods: A web-based survey open to all professionals working in the field was developed by the Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET) and disseminated between March and July 2025 in collaboration with other international rheumatology societies (AFLAR, ArLAR, CARRA, PAFLAR, PANLAR).The survey was divided into 4 sections: (i) participants' characteristics, (ii) AI use and applications, (iii) opinions and knowledge, and (iv) concerns, needs, and expectations.Results: Overall, 461 responses were collected from 59 countries.Respondents were mostly physicians who completed their training (316, 68.7%) and were based in Europe (170, 36.9%).Most participants (397, 86.7%) used AI for medical purposes, especially large language models (385, 83.7%) for grammar correction and brainstorming.Although there was broad optimism about its use (366, 79.6%), self-reported practical skills were predominantly basic or still in development (346, 75.1%), and knowledge was rarely defined as strong or expert-level (63, 13.7%).Concerns focused on ethics (314, 69%), lack of trust (316, 69.5%), and insufficient training (270, 59.3%).Disparities emerged across geographic regions in use, knowledge, and practical skills.Conclusions: AI is widely used and positively perceived in rheumatology, despite limited knowledge and practical skills, and regional disparities.Addressing gaps in ethics, transparency, and insufficient training through targeted education and implementation strategies will be essential to ensure an equitable and effective integration into clinical and research practice.

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Publication Details

Journal
EULAR Rheumatology Open
Published
2026-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ero.2026.03.001
Primary Topic
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Artificial intelligence in rheumatology and paediatric rheumatology: insights from an international survey by EMEUNET

Thomas Hügle, Dzifa Dey, Alison M. Hoens, ANGELA NYANGORE MIGOWA et al.
EULAR Rheumatology Open
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research
article

Artificial intelligence in rheumatology and paediatric rheumatology: insights from an international survey by EMEUNET

Thomas Hügle, Dzifa Dey, Alison M. Hoens, ANGELA NYANGORE MIGOWA, Diego Benavent, Krystel Aouad, Deniz Bayraktar, Alessandra Alongi, Davide Cangelosi, Saverio La Bella, Wilson Bautista-Molano, Nelly Ziade, Tue Kragstrup, Thomas Davergne, Linda C. Li, Johannes Knitza, Latika Gupta, Erin Treemarcki, Ihsane Hmamouchi, Abdellah El Maghraoui, Nicolino Ruperto, Ana Isabel Rebollo-Giménez, Vincenzo Venerito
article en

Abstract

Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising medicine.The aim of this study was to detail its use, opinions, knowledge, and concerns in rheumatology and paediatric rheumatology.Methods: A web-based survey open to all professionals working in the field was developed by the Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET) and disseminated between March and July 2025 in collaboration with other international rheumatology societies (AFLAR, ArLAR, CARRA, PAFLAR, PANLAR).The survey was divided into 4 sections: (i) participants' characteristics, (ii) AI use and applications, (iii) opinions and knowledge, and (iv) concerns, needs, and expectations.Results: Overall, 461 responses were collected from 59 countries.Respondents were mostly physicians who completed their training (316, 68.7%) and were based in Europe (170, 36.9%).Most participants (397, 86.7%) used AI for medical purposes, especially large language models (385, 83.7%) for grammar correction and brainstorming.Although there was broad optimism about its use (366, 79.6%), self-reported practical skills were predominantly basic or still in development (346, 75.1%), and knowledge was rarely defined as strong or expert-level (63, 13.7%).Concerns focused on ethics (314, 69%), lack of trust (316, 69.5%), and insufficient training (270, 59.3%).Disparities emerged across geographic regions in use, knowledge, and practical skills.Conclusions: AI is widely used and positively perceived in rheumatology, despite limited knowledge and practical skills, and regional disparities.Addressing gaps in ethics, transparency, and insufficient training through targeted education and implementation strategies will be essential to ensure an equitable and effective integration into clinical and research practice.

EULAR Rheumatology Open
Mohammed V University (MA), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (IT), University of British Columbia (CA), Inserm (FR), Philipps University of Marburg (DE), University of Iceland (IS), Saint Joseph University (LB), Universidad El Bosque (CO), Aarhus University (DK), Université Paris Cité (FR), University of Utah (US), Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University (TR), The Francis Crick Institute (GB), Istituto Giannina Gaslini (IT), Bellvitge University Hospital (ES), Aarhus University Hospital (DK), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (GH), Saint George Hospital (LB), Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (ES), Sorbonne Université (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (FR), Institut thématique Immunologie, inflammation, infectiologie et microbiologie (FR), Research Canada (CA), International University of Rabat (MA), Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerardo (IT), Regionshospitalet Silkeborg (DK), Utah Department of Health (US), Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (CO), Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT), The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (GB), Wolverhampton Hospital (GB), Regional Hospital Central Jutland (DK), Centre de Recherche Épidémiologie et Statistique (FR), University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT), University of Lausanne (CH)
Openalex Percentile: Top 29%
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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