Post-Publication Discussion

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal published by Poltekkes Kemenkes Palu, Indonesia. The journal encourages constructive academic discussion, critical evaluation, and scholarly exchange concerning published research as essential components of scientific integrity and the continuous advancement of health sciences.

The journal recognizes that post-publication discussion enables the scientific community to examine research findings, clarify interpretations, identify methodological limitations, address potential errors, and contribute to the improvement of scientific knowledge, evidence-based healthcare practices, and public health policies.

Readers, researchers, authors, healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers, and other members of the academic community may submit scholarly comments, questions, or concerns regarding articles published in Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan.

Such contributions should aim to improve scientific understanding, promote transparency, encourage critical evaluation, and support the reliability, validity, and reproducibility of published research.

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan welcomes legitimate academic criticism provided that it is relevant, evidence-based, respectful, and consistent with recognized standards of research integrity and publication ethics.

1. Scope of Post-Publication Discussion

Post-publication discussions may address various aspects of articles published in Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, including but not limited to:

1. Research Methodology: Study design, sampling procedures, research instruments, data collection methods, statistical analyses, qualitative approaches, and other methodological considerations.

2. Interpretation of Research Findings: Interpretation of results, data presentation, statistical significance, scientific validity, and the appropriateness of research conclusions.

3. Scientific and Theoretical Contributions: Theoretical frameworks, conceptual arguments, scientific relevance, and the contribution of findings to nursing, midwifery, nutrition, public health, environmental health, reproductive health, health education, health promotion, and related health sciences.

4. Methodological Limitations and Research Errors: Potential limitations, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, omissions, or discrepancies in reported research methods, data, results, or conclusions.

5. Research Ethics: Ethical considerations involving research ethics approval, informed consent, patient confidentiality, participant protection, clinical trial registration, and responsible reporting of research involving human participants or animals, where applicable.

6. Transparency and Reproducibility: Questions concerning data availability, methodological transparency, reproducibility, reporting accuracy, and the interpretation of scientific evidence.

7. Research Integrity: Potential overlap with previously published work, plagiarism, duplicate publication, inappropriate data or image manipulation, authorship concerns, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other issues affecting the reliability of published research.

8. Implications for Healthcare Practice and Policy: Critical evaluation of the relevance, applicability, and limitations of published findings for clinical practice, community health interventions, healthcare services, health education, and public health policy.

9. Emerging Scientific Evidence: New scientific findings or developments that may support, challenge, refine, or provide additional context for previously published research.

Post-publication discussion is intended to support constructive scholarly evaluation and should not be used to promote personal interests, engage in professional disputes, make unsupported accusations, or advance claims unrelated to the scientific content of the published article.

2. Submission Procedures

Comments, questions, and concerns regarding published articles should be submitted to the Editorial Office of Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan through the journal's official communication channels.

Submissions should clearly identify the article being discussed, including its title, author(s), publication year, volume, issue, and Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or article URL, where available.

Submissions should include:

1. A clear identification of the published article being discussed.

2. A concise and specific explanation of the scientific question, concern, or criticism.

3. Supporting scientific evidence, relevant references, or other appropriate documentation.

4. Specific questions or recommendations for clarification, where applicable.

5. The name, institutional affiliation, and contact information of the individual submitting the discussion, unless an appropriately justified confidential or anonymous report is being considered.

6. Disclosure of any relevant conflicts of interest associated with the submitted comments.

Individuals submitting post-publication comments are responsible for ensuring that their statements are accurate, relevant, professionally expressed, and supported by appropriate scientific evidence.

The Editorial Office may request additional information, clarification, or supporting documentation when a submission is incomplete or further evidence is required.

Submissions may be declined when they fall outside the journal's scientific scope, lack sufficient academic relevance, contain unsupported allegations, include inappropriate language, or fail to meet the journal's standards for ethical and professional communication.

Allegations involving possible research misconduct may be referred directly to the procedures established under the journal's Allegations of Research Misconduct Policy.

3. Editorial Evaluation

The Editorial Board of Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan will conduct an initial assessment of submitted post-publication comments to determine their relevance, scientific merit, clarity, validity, and compliance with the journal's publication ethics and communication standards.

Depending on the nature, complexity, and significance of the submission, the Editorial Board may:

1. Evaluate the submitted comments internally.

2. Consult the original article's authors, relevant subject experts, or independent reviewers.

3. Request additional scientific evidence, clarification, or supporting documentation from the individual submitting the comments.

4. Invite the original article's authors to provide a written response.

5. Seek independent statistical, methodological, clinical, or research ethics advice when necessary.

6. Initiate further examination when credible concerns arise regarding scientific validity, research integrity, ethical compliance, or the reliability of published findings.

7. Determine whether the matter requires publication of a scholarly response, correction, clarification, Expression of Concern, or another appropriate editorial action.

Editorial assessments will be conducted fairly, independently, and impartially.

Decisions will be based on the scientific substance of the discussion, the available evidence, and relevant ethical and editorial considerations.

The existence of academic criticism, disagreement, or alternative scientific interpretation does not automatically constitute evidence of research misconduct or grounds for retracting a published article.

The Editorial Board will distinguish legitimate scientific debate from concerns requiring formal investigation under the journal's publication ethics procedures.

4. Authors' Right to Respond

When a post-publication comment raises substantive scientific questions or concerns, Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan may invite the authors of the original article to provide a written response.

The corresponding author will ordinarily serve as the primary contact for communication between the Editorial Office and the author group.

Authors are encouraged to respond in a clear, professional, respectful, and evidence-based manner by addressing the issues raised and providing relevant explanations, supporting references, additional analyses, or corrections where necessary.

Authors may be requested to provide clarification concerning research methods, data interpretation, statistical procedures, ethical approval, informed consent, or other aspects of the published work.

The journal aims to provide authors with a fair and reasonable opportunity to respond to significant academic criticism.

However, the decision to invite a response, request additional documentation, or publish subsequent correspondence remains at the discretion of the Editorial Board, based on the scientific relevance and significance of the matter.

An author's response does not automatically resolve the concern, and scientific disagreement between the parties does not necessarily require corrective editorial action.

The Editorial Board will consider the submitted comments, the authors' response, and all relevant supporting evidence before determining the appropriate outcome.

All authors remain accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of their published research in accordance with the journal's Authorship Criteria and Publication Ethics policies.

5. Publication of Discussions and Responses

Where appropriate, Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan may publish accepted scholarly comments, letters to the editor, author responses, editorial clarifications, or other forms of post-publication discussion in accordance with the journal's approved editorial arrangements.

Such contributions may be published as separate scholarly items, associated with the original article, or linked to the relevant publication record to ensure transparency and facilitate scientific reference.

All submissions intended for publication are subject to editorial assessment and, where necessary, independent peer review.

Published discussions must satisfy the journal's standards concerning:

1. Scientific relevance and academic significance.

2. Accuracy and appropriate interpretation of scientific evidence.

3. Originality and proper acknowledgment of relevant sources.

4. Professional and respectful scholarly communication.

5. Compliance with applicable research and publication ethics requirements.

6. Appropriate disclosure of conflicts of interest.

7. Protection of confidential information and personal data.

The journal may edit submissions for clarity, language, length, consistency, and compliance with editorial requirements, provided that such editing does not alter the scientific meaning or misrepresent the contributor's position.

Contributors may be contacted when substantive clarification or revision is necessary.

When post-publication discussions are published, the Editorial Board should ensure that readers can identify the relationship between the discussion, the original article, and any relevant author response or editorial notice.

Publication of a scholarly comment or response does not necessarily imply endorsement by Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan of every statement or interpretation presented by the contributor.

The journal's responsibility is to facilitate fair, transparent, objective, and evidence-based scholarly communication.

6. Corrections, Clarifications, and Editorial Actions

If a post-publication discussion identifies a credible error, ambiguity, omission, inconsistency, or other concern affecting a published article, Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan will evaluate the matter in accordance with its editorial policies and publication ethics procedures.

Depending on the findings, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

1. Request for Clarification: Request additional explanations, supporting information, or documentation from the authors of the original article.

2. Correction or Corrigendum: Publish a correction when a factual, statistical, reporting, or other error requires amendment but does not fundamentally compromise the validity of the published research.

3. Editorial Clarification: Publish a clarification, editorial notice, or other appropriate communication when additional information or context is necessary for readers.

4. Expression of Concern: Publish an Expression of Concern when substantial questions concerning the reliability or integrity of a published article remain unresolved or are subject to further investigation.

5. Retraction: Retract an article when sufficient evidence establishes that its findings or conclusions are unreliable, or when serious ethical or publication violations justify retraction.

6. Institutional Referral: Refer credible allegations of research misconduct to the relevant academic institution, research ethics committee, funding organization, or other appropriate authority when necessary.

7. Publication Record Updates: Update relevant article metadata, bibliographic information, and publication status notices to ensure that readers are informed of formal post-publication actions.

Any editorial action will be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the identified concern and will follow the journal's applicable policies on corrections, retractions, research misconduct, and publication ethics.

Where applicable, corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retraction notices will be clearly identified, publicly accessible, and linked to the affected article.

The journal will maintain the transparency and integrity of its publication record, including appropriate updates to article status information through its established publishing infrastructure and CrossMark procedures, where applicable.

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan will not make adverse determinations solely on the basis of unverified allegations, unsupported criticism, or differences in academic interpretation.

7. Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct

All individuals participating in post-publication discussion must observe appropriate standards of academic integrity, professional conduct, fairness, and respectful scholarly communication.

Comments must focus on the scientific content, research methods, evidence, interpretation, validity, or ethical aspects of published research.

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan does not permit defamatory statements, personal attacks, harassment, discriminatory language, threats, deliberate misrepresentation, or unsupported allegations directed toward authors, reviewers, editors, institutions, or other individuals.

Submissions containing such material may be rejected, returned for revision, or otherwise handled in accordance with the journal's editorial policies.

Concerns regarding research misconduct or ethical violations should be communicated responsibly and supported by sufficient information to permit an appropriate assessment.

The journal will distinguish between:

1. Legitimate scientific criticism or academic disagreement.

2. Honest errors or methodological limitations that may require clarification or correction.

3. Credible allegations of research misconduct requiring further investigation.

Discussions concerning healthcare practices, clinical interventions, patient safety, or public health recommendations must be grounded in appropriate scientific evidence.

Contributors must avoid presenting preliminary interpretations, unverified claims, or speculative conclusions as established scientific facts.

The purpose of post-publication discussion is to strengthen scientific knowledge, promote responsible academic debate, and support the continued improvement of healthcare research and practice.

8. Confidentiality and Impartiality

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan will handle post-publication comments, related correspondence, and supporting documentation with appropriate confidentiality, fairness, and impartiality.

Information will be shared only with individuals or organizations whose involvement is reasonably necessary for editorial assessment, verification, or investigation, subject to applicable ethical, legal, and institutional requirements.

The journal will take appropriate measures to protect:

1. Confidential research information and unpublished supporting materials.

2. Personal information of authors, reviewers, complainants, and other involved individuals.

3. Patient identities, medical records, and sensitive health-related information.

4. Confidential editorial correspondence and research integrity investigation materials.

5. Other protected information obtained during the assessment process.

Editorial decisions will be made independently and without improper influence from personal relationships, institutional interests, financial considerations, commercial interests, or other relevant conflicts of interest.

Editors responsible for assessing post-publication submissions must disclose actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.

When necessary, an editor with a relevant conflict must withdraw from the evaluation, and an independent editor will be assigned to manage the matter.

The journal will make reasonable efforts to ensure that all parties receive fair treatment and that editorial decisions are based on relevant evidence rather than personal, institutional, or professional considerations.

These procedures will be implemented consistently with the journal's Conflict of Interest Policy and other applicable publication ethics requirements.

9. Research Integrity and Further Investigation

When post-publication comments raise credible concerns regarding possible fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, unethical research practices, inappropriate data or image manipulation, authorship misconduct, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other forms of research misconduct, Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan may conduct a preliminary editorial assessment.

The assessment will be carried out in accordance with the journal's Allegations of Research Misconduct Policy.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, the journal may:

1. Review the published article and relevant supporting evidence.

2. Request clarification or additional documentation from the corresponding author or other relevant authors.

3. Examine research data, statistical procedures, images, references, ethical approval records, or other supporting information.

4. Consult independent subject experts, statisticians, or research ethics specialists.

5. Seek information from the relevant research institution, funding organization, or research ethics committee.

6. Consider appropriate editorial measures to protect the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

When concerns cannot be adequately resolved through editorial clarification, the journal may refer the matter to the authors' affiliated institution, research ethics committee, funding organization, or another competent authority.

Supporting documentation, including ethical approval records, informed consent documentation, original research data, clinical records, or other relevant materials, may be requested when necessary and legally permissible.

The journal recognizes that an editorial assessment does not necessarily replace a formal investigation by a research institution or another competent authority.

The Editorial Board will distinguish between allegations, concerns under investigation, and substantiated findings of misconduct.

Any editorial decision will be based on the available evidence, the seriousness of the concern, applicable publication ethics standards, and the need to protect research participants, patient safety, public health, and the integrity of published scientific knowledge.

10. Appeals and Further Correspondence

Individuals who believe that their post-publication submission, scholarly comment, or related concern has been handled unfairly may contact the Editorial Office of Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan and provide a written explanation of the grounds for their appeal.

Appeals should include:

1. Identification of the original submission or editorial decision being challenged.

2. A clear explanation of the grounds for reconsideration.

3. Relevant scientific evidence or supporting documentation.

4. Any additional information necessary to support a fair reassessment.

Appeals will be considered by an editor or authorized representative who was not directly responsible for the original decision, whenever reasonably possible.

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

The journal may decline repeated correspondence that does not provide new evidence, substantive clarification, or a legitimate basis for reconsideration.

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

The Editorial Board retains authority to determine the appropriate editorial procedures and outcomes while ensuring that decisions are made fairly, consistently, independently, and in accordance with the journal's established policies.

11. Policy Implementation and Ethical Framework

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan is committed to maintaining an open, respectful, transparent, and evidence-based environment for post-publication scholarly discussion.

The journal recognizes constructive criticism, responsible academic debate, and independent scientific evaluation as important mechanisms for strengthening the credibility, accountability, validity, and quality of published research in health sciences.

This policy is implemented in conjunction with the journal's other editorial and publication ethics policies, including:

1. Publication Ethics.

2. Authorship Criteria.

3. Allegations of Research Misconduct.

4. Conflict of Interest Policy.

5. Plagiarism Policy.

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy.

7. Policies concerning corrections, retractions, and the maintenance of publication records.

8. Other applicable research integrity and editorial policies.

The journal's procedures are informed by relevant principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized standards for ethical scholarly publishing.

Authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other contributors are expected to participate in post-publication discussion responsibly, respectfully, and in accordance with the principles of academic integrity and scientific transparency.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to determine the appropriate mechanisms for receiving, evaluating, and publishing post-publication discussions in accordance with the journal's editorial procedures and publishing capabilities.

Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan may periodically review and update this policy to reflect developments in scholarly communication, research integrity, scientific publishing practices, and internationally recognized publication ethics standards.

Through this policy, Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan reaffirms its commitment to constructive scholarly dialogue, responsible post-publication evaluation, editorial accountability, and the continuous improvement of scientific knowledge and evidence-based healthcare practice.