Post-publication discussions and corrections

Post-publication Discussions and Corrections

1. Introduction

NERS Jurnal Keperawatan (NJK) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record after publication. The journal recognizes that scientific knowledge continues to develop and that published research may require discussion, clarification, or correction as new information becomes available.

This policy establishes the procedures for handling post-publication discussions and updates, including corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, addenda, and other necessary amendments to published articles. These procedures aim to protect the reliability of the scholarly record and maintain public trust in nursing research and healthcare scholarship.

NJK follows the principles of responsible scholarly publishing and uses guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when addressing post-publication concerns.

2. Description

2.1 Post-publication Discussion

Scholarly communication does not end when an article is published. NJK recognizes the importance of constructive discussion, critical appraisal, and clarification of published research to support the advancement of nursing science, education, clinical practice, and health systems.

2.2 Need for Post-publication Amendments

A published article may require review or amendment for several reasons, including:

Honest errors by authors or the journal that affect the accuracy or interpretation of the article.
Newly identified information that materially affects the reliability or interpretation of the findings.
Concerns about research integrity, including plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, or duplicate publication.
Ethical concerns involving research participants, informed consent, confidentiality, or required ethical approval.
Errors in methods, data, statistical analysis, references, or other information that materially affect the published record.

2.3 Types of Post-publication Amendments

Corrections

Corrections address errors or omissions in a published article that require formal clarification but do not necessarily invalidate its principal findings. Depending on the journal's terminology and the origin of the error, a correction may be described as an erratum or corrigendum.

Retractions

A retraction is issued when there are sufficient grounds to conclude that a published article is unreliable or should no longer be treated as a valid contribution to the scholarly record. Possible grounds include major errors, data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, redundant publication, or serious ethical violations.

Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern is a notice alerting readers to significant questions about the reliability or integrity of a published article when an investigation is ongoing, delayed, or has not produced a conclusive outcome.

Addenda

An addendum provides additional information that is necessary for readers to understand a published article but does not constitute a correction of an error in the original publication.

Other Post-publication Updates

In exceptional cases, additional editorial notices or updates may be necessary to clarify the status of an article, protect readers, or maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. Such actions will be assessed individually and documented transparently.

3. Policy

3.1 Encouraging Scholarly Discussion

NJK welcomes constructive and respectful scholarly discussion concerning articles published in the journal.

Readers who identify concerns, limitations, or questions about a published article may contact the editorial team through the journal's official communication channels. Where the journal accepts letters to the editor, commentaries, or similar submissions, these may be considered for publication following editorial assessment.

Authors of the original article may be invited to respond when appropriate. Any discussion or response considered for publication must be relevant, evidence-based, professional, and consistent with the journal's editorial standards.

3.2 Maintaining the Integrity of the Scholarly Record

NJK has a responsibility to assess credible concerns about the accuracy, reliability, and ethical integrity of its published content.

When a concern is raised, the editorial team will evaluate the available information and determine whether further clarification, correction, investigation, or another editorial action is appropriate.

The journal may request explanations, supporting documents, research data, ethics approval information, or other relevant evidence from the authors. Where necessary, the journal may also consult independent experts or contact the relevant institution or research ethics committee.

Actions will be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the concern and will follow applicable publication ethics guidance.

3.3 Transparency and Clarity

When a correction, retraction, Expression of Concern, addendum, or other formal notice is issued, NJK will aim to:

Clearly identify the type and purpose of the notice.
Explain the reason for the amendment or editorial action.
Link the notice to the original article and the original article to the notice, where technically possible.
Maintain an appropriate record of the article's publication history.
Update the article's online presentation and metadata where necessary and technically possible.
Communicate relevant updates to indexing or abstracting services when applicable.

The original published record should not be silently altered in a way that conceals a material change. Any necessary changes to article files or online content should be accompanied by an appropriate notice, subject to applicable legal and ethical requirements.

3.4 Impartiality in Decision-making

Decisions concerning corrections, retractions, Expressions of Concern, or other post-publication actions are made by the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately designated editor.

Decisions should be based on the available evidence, the significance of the concern, the reliability of the published findings, and relevant ethical considerations. Authors' academic status, institutional affiliation, seniority, or personal relationships must not improperly influence the outcome.

When an editor has a conflict of interest, an independent editor should handle the matter where practicable.

3.5 Grounds for Retraction

NJK may consider retracting an article when there is credible evidence that:

The findings are unreliable because of a major error, data fabrication, or data falsification.
The article contains plagiarism or substantial unattributed duplication.
The article has been published redundantly or duplicates another publication without appropriate justification.
Serious research ethics violations occurred, including the absence of required ethical approval or consent where applicable.
There are other substantial concerns that undermine the integrity or reliability of the published work.

Retraction is not ordinarily necessary for minor errors that do not materially affect the validity or interpretation of the article. In such cases, a correction or another appropriate editorial notice may be more suitable.

The journal will assess each case individually and follow relevant COPE guidance when determining the appropriate action.

3.6 Expressions of Concern

NJK may issue an Expression of Concern when significant questions arise about a published article and:

An investigation into possible research or publication misconduct is ongoing.
An investigation has been delayed or is expected to take a substantial amount of time.
Available evidence raises serious concerns about the reliability or integrity of the article, but a definitive conclusion cannot yet be reached.

An Expression of Concern is intended to inform readers while the matter is being assessed. It does not, by itself, establish that misconduct has occurred.

When additional information becomes available, the journal will review the status of the notice and consider whether a correction, retraction, withdrawal of the concern, or another appropriate action is warranted.

3.7 Author Cooperation

Authors of articles published in NJK are expected to cooperate reasonably with the editorial team when concerns arise about their published work.

Depending on the nature of the concern, authors may be asked to provide explanations, original data, analysis files, ethics approval documentation, informed consent information, or other relevant supporting materials.

If authors do not respond or provide sufficient clarification, the journal may consider the available evidence and, where appropriate, seek assistance from the relevant institution or other responsible body. The absence of an author's response does not automatically establish misconduct.

4. Procedures for Post-publication Actions

4.1 Post-publication Discussions

Letters to the Editor and Commentaries

Where NJK accepts letters to the editor or commentaries, submissions should be concise, evidence-based, respectful, and directly related to an article published in the journal.

Submissions may undergo editorial assessment and, where appropriate, peer review. The authors of the original article may be invited to submit a response, which may be published alongside the discussion or separately.

NJK will provide information about submission requirements for these formats if and when they are formally offered by the journal.

Online Comments

Any online commenting feature, if available, must be used in accordance with the journal's standards for respectful scholarly communication. Comments may be moderated or removed when they contain abusive, defamatory, irrelevant, or otherwise inappropriate content. Substantive scholarly concerns should be assessed on their merits.

4.2 Corrections

Identification and Reporting of Errors

Authors, readers, reviewers, and other individuals who identify a potentially significant error in a published NJK article are encouraged to contact the editorial team through the journal's official communication channels. Reports should identify the article, describe the suspected error, and provide supporting information where available.

Assessment of Errors

The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor will assess the reported issue and may consult the authors, relevant experts, or other appropriate parties. The assessment will consider whether the error affects the article's accuracy, interpretation, methods, data, conclusions, or ethical integrity.

Issuing a Correction Notice

If a correction is warranted, NJK will publish a notice describing the error and the necessary correction. The notice should identify the original article and be linked to it where technically possible.

The original article will ordinarily remain accessible with a clear indication that a correction has been issued, unless exceptional legal, ethical, or technical circumstances require another approach.

A correction notice will be made available in accordance with the journal's publication and access policies. Any applicable charges, if they exist, must be consistent with the journal's publicly stated fee policy.

4.3 Retractions

Initiation of the Retraction Process

Concerns that may warrant retraction will be assessed in accordance with this policy and NJK's Allegations of Misconduct Policy.

The journal may request information from the authors and, where appropriate, consult independent experts, the authors' institutions, or relevant research ethics bodies.

Retraction Notice

When retraction is warranted, NJK will aim to publish a clearly identified retraction notice that:

Identifies the retracted article and links to its original publication.
Explains the principal reason or reasons for the retraction.
Identifies who is retracting the article, where appropriate.
Distinguishes between honest error and misconduct where the available evidence supports that distinction.
Is linked to the article's online versions and associated metadata where technically possible.

A retracted article will ordinarily remain part of the scholarly record with a clear retraction label rather than being silently removed. Exceptions may be necessary in circumstances involving legal restrictions, serious privacy concerns, or other exceptional risks.

Where applicable, the journal will communicate the retraction to relevant indexing services and other parties responsible for maintaining publication records.

4.4 Expressions of Concern

Issuing an Expression of Concern

When substantial concerns exist but the evidence is insufficient for a final decision, NJK may publish an Expression of Concern.

The notice should identify the article, describe the nature of the concern as clearly as appropriate, and explain the status of the matter without presenting unproven allegations as established facts.

Follow-up

The journal will review the notice when further information becomes available or an investigation reaches a meaningful outcome. The notice may be supplemented, replaced, or followed by a correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial action.

4.5 Addenda

Authors may request an addendum when important additional information is needed to clarify a published article and the information does not simply correct an error.

The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor will assess whether the proposed addendum is appropriate. Further editorial review or independent assessment may be requested when necessary.

If accepted, the addendum should be published as a clearly identified notice and linked to the original article where technically possible. The addendum must not be used to conceal a material error or avoid an otherwise necessary correction or retraction.

4.6 Article Removal or Replacement in Exceptional Circumstances

Article Removal

Removal of a published article is an exceptional measure and may be considered when continued public availability creates a serious legal, privacy, or safety concern, or when removal is required by applicable law or a competent authority.

Where possible and appropriate, a notice should remain available to explain that the article has been removed and provide the reason without disclosing protected or confidential information.

Article Replacement

If an article contains a serious error, the journal will first consider the appropriate correction or retraction procedure. Any proposal to publish a corrected or replacement version will be evaluated individually and must preserve a transparent record of the original publication and the reason for the change.

A replacement must not obscure the original article's publication history or bypass the journal's standards for editorial assessment and research integrity.

4.7 Discoverability of Post-publication Amendments

NJK will take reasonable steps, within its technical capabilities, to ensure that corrections, retractions, Expressions of Concern, addenda, and other formal notices are discoverable and associated with the relevant article.

Where applicable, the journal will update article metadata and communicate relevant changes to indexing and abstracting services. The journal's goal is to ensure that readers can identify the current status of a published article and understand the reason for any formal amendment.

5. Policy Review

This policy may be reviewed periodically by the editorial leadership to ensure consistency with the journal's other publication ethics policies, evolving scholarly publishing practices, and relevant COPE guidance.

NJK is committed to handling post-publication discussions and corrections fairly, transparently, and responsibly in order to preserve the integrity of nursing and healthcare research.

COPE Resources

Contact Information

NERS Jurnal Keperawatan (NJK)
Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Andalas
Limau Manis, Pauh, Padang, West Sumatra 25163
Indonesia
Email: jurnal.fkep.unand@gmail.com
Website: https://ners.fkep.unand.ac.id/index.php/NJK/index