Post-Publication Discussion

1. Policy Statement

Khatulistiwa Nursing Journal (KNJ) recognizes that scholarly communication continues after an article has been published. Constructive discussion, critical evaluation, and the reporting of errors or concerns are important for maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scientific record.

KNJ welcomes evidence-based comments, scholarly critiques, and requests for clarification concerning articles published in the journal. This policy follows the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly its Core Practice on post-publication discussions and corrections.

This policy applies to all articles published by KNJ and establishes procedures for submitting comments, assessing concerns, inviting author responses, and issuing corrections or other editorial notices when necessary.

2. Submission of Post-Publication Discussions

Readers, researchers, authors, and other interested parties may submit comments or raise concerns about a published article. Submissions may address, but are not limited to:

• The validity, accuracy, or interpretation of research findings.
• Research methodology, statistical analysis, or the presentation of data.
• The accuracy of references, reporting, or other information in the article.
• Research ethics, informed consent, ethical approval, or participant confidentiality.
• Potential plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, data falsification, or other concerns about research integrity.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest or funding information.

Submissions should identify the published article by its title, authors, publication details, and DOI where available. The submitter should clearly describe the concern, provide supporting evidence or relevant references, and include their contact details and any relevant competing interests.

Submissions may be sent to the journal through the official editorial contact listed on the KNJ website, using the subject line:

Post-Publication Discussion: [Article Title or DOI]

 

3. Requirements for Comments and Critiques

All submissions must be scholarly, constructive, relevant, and supported by reasonable evidence. Comments should focus on the scientific content, methodology, findings, interpretation, or publication ethics of the article rather than personal attacks against the authors or other individuals.

Submissions must respect research participants' privacy and confidentiality. Personal data, confidential records, or information that could identify research participants must not be disclosed without an appropriate legal and ethical basis.

KNJ does not accept abusive, discriminatory, threatening, irrelevant, or demonstrably misleading submissions. The journal may request revisions to comments that require clarification or may risk being defamatory or otherwise inappropriate for publication.

4. Editorial Assessment

The editorial team will assess each submission for relevance, scientific merit, clarity, supporting evidence, and compliance with ethical and editorial standards.

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

• Request additional information or supporting documentation from the submitter.
• Invite the original authors to provide a response.
• Seek an independent assessment from qualified experts or reviewers.
• Consult relevant research institutions, ethics committees, or other appropriate authorities when serious concerns require formal investigation.
• Publish the discussion, decline the submission with an appropriate explanation, or take further editorial action.

Editorial decisions will be based on the merits of the submission and the available evidence. Authors will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond when appropriate. The absence of a response from the original authors will not automatically prevent the journal from investigating a credible concern.

The expected timeline and any necessary extensions will be communicated to the relevant parties when appropriate.

5. Publication of Comments and Authors' Responses

KNJ may publish accepted comments, scholarly critiques, letters to the editor, or other forms of post-publication correspondence on its website or through another appropriate publication format.

Where appropriate, the original authors will be invited to respond so that readers can consider the scientific discussion fairly and in context.

Publication of comments and responses is subject to editorial assessment and is not guaranteed. Published correspondence must comply with applicable editorial requirements, including authorship, funding, conflict-of-interest disclosure, and other relevant declarations.

When published, comments and responses will be linked to the original article whenever technically and editorially feasible.

6. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

When a post-publication assessment identifies a problem affecting a published article, KNJ will determine the appropriate action based on the nature, seriousness, and available evidence.

a. Corrections

A correction may be issued when an error or omission needs to be rectified but the main findings and conclusions remain reliable. Corrections may address factual inaccuracies, errors in data presentation, author information, affiliations, references, or relevant declarations.

b. Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be published when substantial questions arise regarding the reliability or integrity of an article and the available evidence is insufficient for a definitive decision, or when a relevant investigation remains unresolved.

c. Retraction

A retraction may be issued when sufficient evidence indicates that an article's findings are unreliable or that serious ethical or publication violations undermine the validity of the publication. Relevant circumstances may include major errors, data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, redundant publication, or serious breaches of research ethics.

All decisions will follow appropriate editorial assessment and applicable COPE guidance. Retraction is intended to correct the scientific record, not to punish authors.

7. Transparency and Preservation of the Scholarly Record

KNJ will document significant post-publication concerns and the resulting editorial actions. Where a correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction is issued, the notice will explain the reason for the action and be linked to the affected article whenever possible.

Articles subject to retraction will normally remain accessible with a clear retraction notice or status, rather than being silently removed, to preserve the transparency and traceability of the scholarly record.

KNJ will not make substantive post-publication changes without an appropriate and transparent editorial notice.

8. Editorial Independence and Ethical Responsibilities

All post-publication discussions and decisions must be handled fairly, objectively, and independently of personal, institutional, financial, or other competing interests.

The editorial team will protect confidential information during the assessment process and disclose information only when appropriate for editorial, ethical, or formal investigative purposes.

KNJ encourages responsible academic criticism and recognizes its role in improving nursing research, nursing education, clinical practice, and healthcare services.

This policy applies to all articles published by Khatulistiwa Nursing Journal (KNJ) and will be implemented in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies and relevant COPE guidance.