Post-Publication Discussion Policy

Journal of Health Science (Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan), published by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Wiraraja, Indonesia, is committed to maintaining scientific integrity and promoting open, transparent, and constructive academic discussion. The journal recognizes that scientific evaluation may continue after an article has been published. Therefore, the journal provides a mechanism for readers and researchers to submit comments, critiques, clarifications, or questions concerning published articles. This policy establishes the procedures for submitting post-publication comments, the original authors' right of reply, editorial evaluation, and appropriate corrective actions.

1. Submission Process

Readers who wish to comment on or critique a published article may submit a Letter to the Editor or Commentary in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Submission Channel: Submissions should be made through the journal's official online submission system or by contacting the editorial office through the official email address provided on the journal's website.
• Scientific Merit: Submissions must identify the article under discussion by providing its title, authors, publication details, and DOI, where available. Comments and critiques must be evidence-based, scientifically sound, and focused on the article's content, methodology, findings, or interpretation.
• Professional Conduct: All submissions must use professional, objective, and respectful language. The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject submissions containing personal attacks, defamatory statements, discriminatory language, or other inappropriate content.

2. Authors' Right of Reply

To ensure fairness and provide an opportunity for academic clarification, when a post-publication comment or critique passes the initial editorial assessment:

• The editorial team may forward the submission to the original authors for their consideration and response.
• The original authors will be invited to submit a formal response within a reasonable period specified by the editorial team.
• Authors should address the issues raised objectively and provide relevant scientific arguments, supporting evidence, or additional clarification.
• The publication of a response will be subject to editorial evaluation and the journal's publication policies.

3. Editorial Evaluation and Publication

The editorial team will assess the scientific relevance, validity, originality, and appropriateness of submitted comments and responses. Where necessary, independent experts or peer reviewers may be consulted to evaluate complex scientific or methodological issues.

If accepted, the comment and the corresponding author response may be published in the journal or made available through an appropriate publication format. Where technically possible, the published discussion will be electronically linked to the original article to facilitate transparency and access for readers.

4. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

If a post-publication discussion reveals potential errors, concerns regarding research integrity, or possible violations of publication ethics, the journal will assess the matter fairly and confidentially and take appropriate action in accordance with the journal's policies and relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance.

Possible actions include:

• Correction (Erratum or Corrigendum): A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article and a formal correction is necessary to maintain the accuracy of the scholarly record.
• Expression of Concern: An expression of concern may be published when substantial concerns regarding the reliability or integrity of an article arise and cannot be resolved promptly, particularly while further investigation is pending.
• Retraction: An article may be retracted when reliable evidence establishes that its findings are seriously unreliable, or when serious ethical violations have occurred, in accordance with applicable publication ethics guidance.

All corrective actions will be proportionate to the nature and severity of the issue and will be documented transparently on the journal's website.

5. Informal and External Discussions

The journal acknowledges that scholarly discussions may occur through academic forums, institutional platforms, social media, and other external channels. Such discussions may provide valuable information about published research. However, concerns requiring formal editorial assessment should be submitted directly to the journal through its official communication channels.

The editorial team will consider credible concerns raised through appropriate external channels when they relate to the accuracy, reliability, or ethical integrity of published articles. All concerns will be assessed objectively, regardless of the channel through which they are received.

6. Commitment to Transparency and Research Integrity

Journal of Health Science (Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan) is committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record, ensuring fair treatment of authors and readers, and encouraging constructive scientific dialogue. The journal will handle post-publication discussions in a timely, impartial, and transparent manner while respecting confidentiality and the rights of all parties involved.