Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice
The International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health (IJMSPH) is an online and print peer-reviewed international journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. To maintain the integrity and quality of the journal, the following principles of publication ethics and malpractice apply. Any article found to violate these standards may be retracted or removed from publication, even post-publication.
All manuscripts submitted to IJMSPH undergo a double-blind peer review process: reviewers remain unaware of the authors’ identities, and authors are unaware of the reviewers’ identities.
IJMSPH rigorously checks for plagiarism, data fabrication, and research misconduct using plagiarism detection software (iThenticate). Falsification of data, manipulation of tables or images, and improper use of animals in research are strictly prohibited. In accordance with professional codes of conduct, the journal reports any suspected plagiarism or duplicate publication.
Importance of Publication Ethics
Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is a cornerstone of scientific knowledge, reflecting the quality of the research, the authors, and their institutions. Peer-reviewed articles support the scientific method, and all parties involved—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to uphold ethical standards throughout the publication process. IJMSPH is committed to maintaining these standards and addressing any malpractice.
Responsibilities of Stakeholders
Author Responsibilities
Authors must:
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Ensure their work is original and has not been published elsewhere.
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Appropriately credit and reference all contributions, sources, and prior work, including online content.
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Submit manuscripts in English and ensure the content represents their own contributions.
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Disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that might influence the interpretation of results.
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Notify the editor promptly if significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered post-publication, cooperating with retraction or correction if necessary.
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Agree to the journal’s license agreement prior to submission.
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Avoid submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
Self-citations: Self-citations must be scientifically justified. Excessive or irrelevant self-citation intended solely to inflate metrics is considered unethical and may be reduced during review.
Editor Responsibilities
Editors must:
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Ensure a fair and unbiased double-blind peer review of submitted manuscripts.
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Prevent conflicts of interest between authors, reviewers, and editorial personnel.
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Maintain the confidentiality of all manuscript-related information until publication.
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The Editor-in-Chief coordinates and oversees the editorial process to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers must:
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Evaluate manuscripts objectively based on scientific merit and relevance.
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Maintain strict confidentiality regarding manuscript content.
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Provide clear, constructive feedback in the review form.
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Notify the Editor-in-Chief of any potential ethical concerns or reasons to reject a manuscript.
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Recuse themselves if unqualified to review a manuscript or if timely review is not feasible.
This policy reflects IJMSPH’s commitment to research integrity, transparency, and the ethical dissemination of medical and public health knowledge.
