INTRODUCTION: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and big data analytics, including descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, has the potential to revolutionize many areas of medicine, including nephrology and dialysis. Artificial intelligence and big data analytics can be used to analyze large amounts of patient medical records, including laboratory results and imaging studies, to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, enhance early detection, identify patterns and trends, and personalize treatment plans for patients with kidney disease. Additionally, artificial intelligence and big data analytics can be used to identify patients' treatment who are not receiving adequate care, highlighting care inefficiencies in the dialysis provider, optimizing patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and consequently creating values for all the involved stakeholders. OBJECTIVES: We present the results of a comprehensive survey aimed at exploring the attitudes of European physicians from eight countries working within a major hemodialysis network (Fresenius Medical Care NephroCare) toward the application of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. METHODS: An electronic survey on the implementation of artificial intelligence in hemodialysis clinics was distributed to 1,067 physicians. Of the 1,067 individuals invited to participate in the study, 404 (37.9%) professionals agreed to participate in the survey. RESULTS: The survey showed that a substantial proportion of respondents believe that artificial intelligence has the potential to support physicians in reducing medical malpractice or mistakes. CONCLUSION: While artificial intelligence's potential benefits are recognized in reducing medical errors and improving decision-making, concerns about treatment plan consistency, personalization, privacy, and the human aspects of patient care persist. Addressing these concerns will be crucial for successfully integrating artificial intelligence solutions in nephrology practice.

Associazione Ipertensione Nefrologia e Trapianto Renale Reggio Calabria Italy

Clinical Epidemiology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension Unit Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Institute of Clinical Physiology Reggio Calabria Italy

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Bad Homburg Germany

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Bucharest Romania

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Istanbul Turkey

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Lisbon Portugal

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Madrid Spain

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Naples Italy

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Praha Czechia

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Waltham Massachusetts USA

Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office Warsaw Poland

Institute of Biology and Molecular Genetics Ariano Irpino Italy

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