Correction, Retraction, and Withdrawal

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal published by Poltekkes Kemenkes Palu, Indonesia. The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record in health sciences and related disciplines.

The journal recognizes that correcting published errors, retracting unreliable articles, issuing Expressions of Concern, and appropriately managing manuscript withdrawal are essential components of responsible scholarly publishing.

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan follows recognized publication ethics principles and relevant recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), where applicable, when addressing errors, concerns regarding research integrity, and potential violations of publication ethics.

All editorial actions are conducted fairly, transparently, and proportionately, based on the available evidence, the seriousness of the concern, and the potential implications for the reliability of published research.

1. Corrections

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan may publish a correction when an error is identified in a published article and the error can be addressed without retracting the entire publication. Corrections are intended to maintain the accuracy and clarity of the scholarly record and ensure that readers can distinguish the original content from the corrected information.

Corrections may be considered for errors involving, but not limited to:

1. Author names, institutional affiliations, author contributions, or other relevant publication metadata.

2. Data presentation, statistical values, tables, figures, illustrations, or other research materials.

3. References, citations, acknowledgments, or funding information.

4. Errors in the text, terminology, units of measurement, or other scientific details.

5. Errors or omissions in declarations of conflicts of interest, research ethics approval, informed consent, funding, or other required statements.

6. Other factual, methodological, or editorial errors that may affect the interpretation, reproducibility, or understanding of the article.

The corresponding author, any co-author, readers, or other concerned parties may notify the Editorial Office of a suspected error. Reports should identify the affected article, describe the error, and provide supporting information or documentation where available.

The Editorial Board will assess the reported error and may request clarification or supporting documentation from the authors. Independent subject experts or other qualified specialists may be consulted when necessary.

If a correction is warranted, the journal will publish a correction notice that clearly identifies the original article, describes the error, specifies the correction, and provides a link to the original publication.

Correction notices will be linked to the relevant article to maintain transparency and traceability. The original article may be updated where appropriate, with a clear indication that a correction has been made and a reference to the published notice.

Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect the scientific meaning may be corrected without a separate formal notice, at the discretion of the Editorial Board and in accordance with the journal's editorial procedures.

If the identified errors substantially undermine the reliability of the research findings or conclusions, a correction alone may not be sufficient. In such circumstances, the Editorial Board may consider publishing an Expression of Concern or retracting the article.

2. Retractions

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan may retract a published article when reliable evidence indicates that its findings, conclusions, or publication integrity are seriously compromised.

Retraction is intended to alert readers that an article should no longer be relied upon as part of the valid scholarly record, while preserving the transparency and traceability of its publication history.

Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

1. Fabrication or falsification of research data, results, images, or other research materials.

2. Plagiarism, substantial unattributed reuse of text or research content, or serious duplicate publication.

3. Serious methodological, analytical, or reporting errors that invalidate the main findings or conclusions.

4. Unethical research practices, including serious violations of research ethics requirements or the rights and protection of human participants or animals.

5. Manipulation of authorship, fraudulent authorship claims, or serious authorship-related misconduct.

6. Manipulation of the peer-review process or other forms of publication-process misconduct.

7. Inappropriate manipulation of images, figures, or data that compromises the reliability of the research.

8. Undisclosed conflicts of interest or other serious omissions that materially undermine confidence in the research or its interpretation.

9. Publication based on fraudulent, invalid, or improperly obtained ethical approval or consent, where the circumstances justify retraction.

10. Other serious violations of research integrity or publication ethics that make the article unreliable or unsuitable to remain part of the trusted scholarly record.

A retraction may be considered following a report from authors, readers, reviewers, editors, academic institutions, research ethics committees, funding organizations, or other credible sources.

The Editorial Board will assess the available evidence and, where appropriate, request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors. Independent experts or the authors' affiliated institutions may be consulted when necessary.

Authors will ordinarily be given an opportunity to respond to the concerns before a final editorial decision is made, unless urgent action is necessary to protect research participants, patient safety, public health, or the integrity of the scholarly record.

A lack of response from the authors will not automatically prevent the journal from taking appropriate action when sufficient evidence is available.

A retraction notice will clearly identify the retracted article and explain the principal reasons for the decision. The notice will be publicly accessible and linked to the original article.

The original article will ordinarily remain available in the journal's online archive, clearly marked as retracted, to preserve the scholarly record and prevent its publication history from becoming obscured.

Where possible, the retraction notice will distinguish between misconduct, honest error, and other circumstances leading to retraction. It will identify the responsible parties or the basis for the decision as appropriate, while respecting confidentiality, legal requirements, and relevant publication ethics standards.

Retraction does not automatically imply that every author is responsible for the problem. Individual responsibility will be assessed based on the available evidence.

3. Manuscript Withdrawal

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan recognizes that authors may occasionally need to request withdrawal of a manuscript before publication. Withdrawal requests must be based on valid and justifiable reasons and submitted through the journal's official communication channels.

Manuscript withdrawal is distinct from retraction. Withdrawal generally concerns a manuscript that has not yet been formally published, whereas retraction concerns a published article whose reliability or integrity is seriously compromised.

Withdrawal must not be used to avoid legitimate editorial queries, peer-review criticism, research integrity investigations, or the correction of errors.

3.1. Withdrawal Before the Editorial or Peer-Review Process

Authors may request withdrawal before substantive editorial assessment or peer review has begun.

The corresponding author must submit a formal written request to the Editorial Office, identifying the manuscript title, manuscript identification number, and reason for withdrawal.

The request must confirm that all co-authors have been informed and, where applicable, agree to the withdrawal.

The editor will review the request and provide written confirmation when the withdrawal has been processed.

3.2. Withdrawal During the Editorial or Peer-Review Process

Withdrawal after a manuscript has entered editorial assessment or peer review is strongly discouraged.

If withdrawal is necessary for a legitimate reason, the corresponding author must submit a formal written request explaining the circumstances and confirming the position of all co-authors.

The Editorial Board may request further clarification before deciding whether to approve the request.

A manuscript will be considered officially withdrawn only after the corresponding author receives written confirmation from the Editorial Office.

Until written confirmation is received, the manuscript remains under consideration by Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to another journal while it remains under active consideration by this journal.

Withdrawal will not automatically terminate an ongoing inquiry into suspected plagiarism, duplicate submission, fabricated or falsified data, authorship disputes, ethical violations, or other serious research integrity concerns.

The journal may continue appropriate procedures or refer the matter to a relevant institution or authority when justified.

3.3. Withdrawal After Acceptance

Withdrawal of a manuscript that has already been accepted for publication is strongly discouraged and will be considered only in exceptional circumstances supported by clear and justifiable reasons.

The corresponding author must submit a formal written request explaining why publication should not proceed and confirming that all co-authors have been informed and, where applicable, agree to the request.

The editor will evaluate the circumstances and determine whether withdrawal is appropriate.

The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editorial representative.

Approval of a withdrawal request is not automatic. The journal may refuse a request when the reasons are insufficient, when withdrawal would undermine publication ethics, or when an unresolved research integrity concern requires further action.

3.4. Withdrawal After Online Publication

Once an article has been formally published online as part of the scholarly record, it will not ordinarily be treated as an unpublished manuscript that can simply be withdrawn.

If a serious error, ethical concern, or other substantial problem is identified after publication, Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan will assess the matter under its correction, Expression of Concern, and retraction procedures.

Removal of an online article may be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as a binding legal requirement, a serious risk to personal safety, a significant privacy or confidentiality violation, or another compelling reason that cannot reasonably be addressed through a correction or retraction notice.

Any removal or restriction will be handled cautiously and documented as transparently as circumstances permit.

4. Expressions of Concern

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan may publish an Expression of Concern when credible and substantial questions arise regarding the reliability, integrity, or ethical compliance of a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient for an immediate final decision.

An Expression of Concern may be considered when:

1. An investigation into suspected research misconduct or publication ethics violations is ongoing.

2. Relevant institutions or authorities have not yet completed their assessment.

3. The authors or institutions have not provided sufficient information to resolve significant concerns.

4. Available evidence indicates that readers should be alerted to a potential problem while further assessment is conducted.

5. Other circumstances create a reasonable basis for concern about the reliability or integrity of the article.

An Expression of Concern will identify the article in question and explain the nature of the unresolved issue to the extent permitted by the available evidence, confidentiality requirements, and applicable law.

The notice will be publicly accessible and linked to the original publication.

An Expression of Concern does not, by itself, establish that misconduct has occurred or that the article's findings are invalid.

Following further assessment, the Editorial Board may maintain the notice, publish a correction, retract the article, or take no further action if the concerns are satisfactorily resolved.

5. Editorial Assessment and Decision-Making

All correction, retraction, withdrawal, and Expression of Concern requests or reports will be assessed individually by the Editorial Board or an appropriately authorized editor of Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may:

1. Conduct an initial assessment of the information received.

2. Request explanations, original data, research documentation, ethics approval records, consent documentation, or other relevant materials from the authors.

3. Consult independent reviewers, subject experts, statistical experts, or research ethics specialists.

4. Contact the authors' affiliated institutions, research ethics committees, funding organizations, or other appropriate authorities.

5. Evaluate the responses and available evidence before determining the appropriate editorial action.

Editorial decisions will be based on the reliability of the evidence, the potential effect on the scholarly record, the seriousness of the issue, and relevant publication ethics principles.

Editors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and withdraw from decision-making when their impartiality may reasonably be questioned. Where necessary, an independent editor will be assigned to manage the matter.

The journal will seek to give affected parties a fair opportunity to provide relevant information. However, timely protective action may be taken when necessary to alert readers to a significant risk or concern, even if an institutional investigation has not been completed.

All actions will be proportionate to the established facts and consistent with the journal's Publication Ethics and Allegations of Research Misconduct policies.

6. Publication Fees and Refunds

Any publication or processing fees applicable to Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan will be handled in accordance with the journal's current Article Processing Charge policy.

The journal's published fee policy states that no submission fee is charged and that the Article Processing Charge is payable after manuscript acceptance, subject to the applicable fee terms.

Withdrawal of a manuscript does not automatically entitle the authors to a refund of any fees already paid.

Requests for refunds, if applicable, will be assessed in accordance with the journal's published fee policy and the circumstances of the case.

Financial matters must remain separate from editorial decision-making. Payment of any fee does not guarantee manuscript acceptance, prevent an investigation, or influence decisions concerning corrections, Expressions of Concern, or retractions.

The journal will communicate applicable fee arrangements transparently and will not use financial considerations to prevent appropriate action to protect research integrity.

7. Appeals

Authors or other directly affected parties may appeal a correction, retraction, withdrawal, or related editorial decision by submitting a written explanation to the Editorial Office of Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, together with relevant evidence or documentation.

Appeals should identify the specific decision being challenged and provide substantive grounds for reconsideration.

Where reasonably possible, the appeal will be assessed by an editor who was not directly responsible for the original decision or by another independent editorial representative.

The journal may uphold, modify, or reconsider its decision based on the evidence, procedural fairness, and applicable publication ethics standards.

Where necessary, the journal may seek additional independent advice or refer unresolved factual questions to the relevant research institution or authority.

An appeal does not automatically suspend necessary measures to protect public health, research participants, or the integrity of the scholarly record.

The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to the relevant parties through the journal's official communication channels.

The journal may decline repeated appeals that do not provide new evidence or a reasonable basis for reconsideration.

8. Transparency, Archiving, and Publication Ethics

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan is committed to maintaining a transparent and reliable scholarly record.

Correction notices, retraction notices, and Expressions of Concern will be linked to the relevant publications and retained in the journal's archive, subject to applicable legal, privacy, and technical requirements.

The journal will handle all cases with due regard for confidentiality, fairness, the rights of authors and research participants, and the public interest in reliable scientific communication.

Where appropriate, Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan will follow relevant COPE guidance and other recognized publication ethics standards.

The journal's editorial actions will be consistent with its applicable policies, including:

1. Publication Ethics.

2. Allegations of Research Misconduct.

3. Plagiarism Policy.

4. Authorship Criteria.

5. Conflict of Interest Policy.

6. Post-Publication Discussion.

7. Other relevant editorial and publication policies.

By submitting a manuscript to Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, authors acknowledge their responsibility to provide accurate and ethically obtained research, cooperate with reasonable editorial inquiries, disclose relevant information, and comply with the journal's policies on corrections, retractions, and withdrawal.

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan reserves the right to review and update this policy when necessary to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, research integrity, and publication ethics.

Through this policy, the journal reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability, responsible editorial decision-making, and the preservation of an accurate and trustworthy scholarly record.