Publication Ethics

1. Introduction

The International Journal of Health Systems and Integrated Health Sciences (IJHSIHS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal adheres to internationally recognized ethical publishing guidelines and best practices.

The publication ethics of IJHSIHS are guided by recommendations from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and transparency standards recommended by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

All parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—must comply with these ethical standards.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJHSIHS must adhere to the following ethical responsibilities:

2.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that:

  • Submitted manuscripts are original works.

  • All sources used in the research are properly cited.

  • The manuscript does not contain plagiarized content.

The journal may use plagiarism detection tools to verify originality. Manuscripts with significant plagiarism will be rejected.

2.2 Multiple or Duplicate Submission

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.

Duplicate publication or submission is considered unethical and may result in:

  • Immediate rejection

  • Notification to the authors’ institutions

  • Restriction from future submissions

2.3 Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:

  • The conception or design of the research

  • Data collection or analysis

  • Drafting or revising the manuscript

All authors must approve the final version before submission.

Individuals who contributed but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

2.4 Data Integrity and Transparency

Authors must ensure that:

  • Data presented in the manuscript are accurate and authentic.

  • Data manipulation or fabrication does not occur.

  • Research methods are clearly described so results can be verified.

Authors may be asked to provide raw data during the review process.

2.5 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research results.

Examples include:

  • Research funding

  • Institutional affiliations

  • Financial interests

  • Consulting relationships

Transparency helps maintain trust in scientific communication.

2.6 Ethical Approval for Research Involving Humans or Animals

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with ethical standards.

Authors must confirm that:

  • Ethical approval was obtained from an appropriate ethics committee.

  • Participants gave informed consent when applicable.

  • Research followed recognized ethical guidelines.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of IJHSIHS are responsible for ensuring fair and unbiased editorial decisions.

Editors must:

  • Evaluate manuscripts based solely on academic merit

  • Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts

  • Avoid conflicts of interest

  • Ensure a transparent and fair peer review process

Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for personal research without the author’s permission.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the quality of the journal.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective and constructive evaluations

  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts

  • Identify relevant published work not cited by authors

  • Alert editors about potential plagiarism or ethical concerns

Reviewers must decline review assignments if they have conflicts of interest.

5. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher of IJHSIHS supports the editorial board in maintaining ethical publishing practices.

The publisher must ensure:

  • Editorial independence

  • Transparency in journal policies

  • Integrity of the scholarly record

  • Compliance with international publishing standards

Commercial considerations must not influence editorial decisions.

6. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

The journal takes allegations of misconduct seriously.

Possible forms of misconduct include:

  • Plagiarism

  • Data fabrication or falsification

  • Duplicate publication

  • Improper authorship attribution

  • Citation manipulation

When misconduct is suspected, the journal will investigate the case following guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Actions may include:

  • Requesting clarification from authors

  • Rejecting the manuscript

  • Publishing corrections or retractions

  • Informing authors’ institutions or funding agencies

7. Corrections and Retractions

To maintain the integrity of the academic record, IJHSIHS may issue:

  • Corrections (Errata) for minor errors

  • Expressions of Concern when serious issues are suspected

  • Retractions when research is proven to be unreliable or unethical

Retraction notices will clearly state the reason for the retraction.

8. Confidentiality

Editors and reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.

They must not:

  • Share manuscripts with unauthorized individuals

  • Use unpublished information for personal advantage

Confidentiality must be maintained throughout the review and publication process.

9. Ethical Oversight

IJHSIHS continuously monitors its editorial and publication processes to ensure adherence to ethical standards.

The journal encourages:

  • Responsible research conduct

  • Transparency in reporting

  • Ethical peer review practices

10. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

IJHSIHS is committed to fostering a trustworthy and ethical scholarly publishing environment that promotes the responsible dissemination of research in health systems and integrated health sciences.

The journal supports global efforts to strengthen ethical research communication and follows the best practices recommended by organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics and the Directory of Open Access Journals