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. 2025 Sep 12:12:1630831.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1630831. eCollection 2025.

Mapping artificial intelligence adoption in hepatology practice and research: challenges and opportunities in MENA region

Mohamed El-Kassas  1   2   3 , Rofida Khalifa  4 , Mohammed A Medhat  5 , Yusuf Yilmaz  3   6 , Ali Tumi  3   7 , Asma Labidi  3   8 , Maen Almattooq  3   9 , Faisal M Sanai  3   10 , Mohamed Elbadry  1   3 , Mohammed Omer Mohammed  11 , Mohamed Abdelhakim Mahdy  12 , Nermeen Abdeen  13 , Hend Radwan  14 , Walaa Abdelhamed  15 , Majed Almaghrabi  16   17 , Mai Fared  18 , Abdel-Naser Elzouki  3   19 , Khalid A Alswat  3   20 , Khalid M AlNaamani  3   21 ; Steatotic Liver Disease Study Foundation in Middle East and North Africa (SLMENA) Collaborators
Collaborators, Affiliations

Mapping artificial intelligence adoption in hepatology practice and research: challenges and opportunities in MENA region

Mohamed El-Kassas et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly relevant to hepatology, yet real-world adoption in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is uncertain. We assessed awareness, use, perceived value, barriers, and policy priorities among hepatology clinicians in the region.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey targeted hepatologists and gastroenterologists across 17 MENA countries. The survey assessed clinical and research applications of AI, perceived benefits, clinical and research use, barriers, ethical considerations, and institutional readiness. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were performed.

Results: Of 285 invited professionals, 236 completed the survey (response rate: 82.8%). While 73.2% recognized the transformative potential of AI, only 14.4% used AI tools daily, primarily for imaging analysis and disease prediction. AI tools were used in research by 39.8% of respondents, mainly for data analysis, manuscript writing assistance, and predictive modeling. Major barriers included inadequate training (60.6%), limited AI tool access (53%), and insufficient infrastructure (53%). Ethical concerns focused on data privacy, diagnostic accuracy, and over-reliance on automation. Despite these challenges, 70.3% expressed strong interest in AI training., and 43.6% anticipating routine clinical integration within 1-3 years.

Conclusion: MENA hepatologists are optimistic about AI but report limited routine use and substantial readiness gaps. Priorities include scalable training, interoperable infrastructure and standards, clear governance with human-in-the-loop safeguards, and region-specific validation to enable safe, equitable implementation.

Keywords: MENA region; artificial intelligence (AI); digital health; ethical considerations; hepatology; medical education.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of previous formal training in AI applications in medicine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Types of AI tool utilization in clinical hepatology practice in the MENA region.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Expert-driven prioritization of AI applications in hepatology clinical practice.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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