Publication Ethics Policy

Publication Ethics Statement

The Journal of Allied Health Clinical Research and Innovation (JAHCRI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and preventing all forms of publication malpractice. The journal follows internationally recognised ethical guidelines recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors to ensure transparency, integrity, and quality in scholarly publishing. All stakeholders involved in the publication process are expected to adhere to these ethical principles.

Authors' Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to JAHCRI must ensure that their work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. All sources of information must be properly cited, and plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. Authors must obtain ethical approval for research involving human participants or animals and disclose any conflicts of interest. They are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, authenticity, and integrity of the data presented.

Reviewers' Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts and related information. Reviews must be conducted objectively and constructively, providing clear feedback to improve manuscript quality. Reviewers should disclose any conflicts of interest and decline review assignments when necessary. Unpublished information obtained through peer review must not be used for personal advantage.

Editors' Responsibilities

Editors evaluate submitted manuscripts based on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editorial decisions are made without discrimination regarding authors’ nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or background. Editors must maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process and ensure that ethical concerns are handled appropriately. Any suspected misconduct is investigated following established ethical guidelines.

Plagiarism Policy

All manuscripts submitted to JAHCRI are screened using standard plagiarism detection software to ensure originality as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) on academic integrity and prevention of plagiarism. Manuscripts containing significant plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or unethical content may be rejected immediately. If plagiarism is identified after publication, the article may be retracted, and appropriate actions may be taken. The journal follows recommended procedures for handling suspected plagiarism cases.

Duplicate Submission and Publication Policy

Submission of a manuscript to JAHCRI implies that the work has not been previously published and is not under consideration elsewhere. Duplicate submissions or redundant publications are considered unethical and will result in rejection or further action. Authors must inform the editorial office if any related manuscripts are submitted or published elsewhere. Transparency in publication status is essential to maintain research integrity.

Article Corrections Policy

Authors are encouraged to promptly notify the editorial office if errors affecting the accuracy of published content are identified. Minor errors may be corrected through formal correction notices issued by the journal. Significant errors affecting the interpretation of research findings may result in publication of corrigenda or errata. The journal aims to maintain the accuracy and reliability of published content.

Article Retraction Policy

Articles may be retracted if significant ethical violations, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unreliable data are identified. Retraction may also occur in cases of authorship disputes or scientific misconduct. A formal retraction notice will be published and clearly linked to the original article, stating the reason for retraction. Retracted articles will remain accessible but will be clearly marked as retracted.

Article Withdrawal Policy

Authors may request withdrawal of manuscripts only for valid and unavoidable reasons before publication. Withdrawal requests must be submitted in writing and approved by the editorial office. Requests should include justification and confirmation from all authors involved in the manuscript. Withdrawal will only be confirmed after official editorial approval.

Archiving Policy

JAHCRI is committed to long-term preservation and accessibility of scholarly content. All published articles are assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to ensure permanent identification and citation. Articles may be archived in recognised digital repositories and institutional archives for long-term preservation. Authors are encouraged to self-archive their published work in institutional repositories.

Policy on Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

At the Journal of Allied Health Clinical Research and Innovation (JAHCRI), authors must disclose any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies during manuscript preparation at the time of submission. Such tools may be used only to improve language clarity, grammar, or readability and must not replace human intellectual contribution or scientific interpretation.

Authors are responsible for carefully reviewing and editing any AI-assisted content, as these tools may generate inaccurate, incomplete, or biased information. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of their submitted work. Generative AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, as authorship requires accountability that only humans can provide.

If generative AI tools are used, authors must include a declaration in the manuscript under a section titled "Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process", placed before the references. A declaration is not required when only standard tools such as grammar checkers or reference management software are used.

To maintain confidentiality and ethical review standards, editors and reviewers of JAHCRI are not permitted to use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies during the peer-review and manuscript evaluation process. This policy may be updated periodically in response to advancements in AI technologies.

Special Issues and Article Collections

JAHCRI may publish special issues focusing on specific themes relevant to allied health and clinical research. These issues may be coordinated by guest editors who assist in defining the thematic scope and identifying potential contributors. All submissions to special issues undergo the same rigorous peer-review process as regular manuscripts. Editorial decisions remain under the authority of the journal’s editorial board.

Advertising Policy

JAHCRI maintains a strict advertising policy to ensure editorial independence and scientific integrity. Advertisements, if accepted in the future, will not influence editorial decisions or peer-review processes. The journal prioritises maintaining a scholarly platform free from commercial bias. Any advertising content will be clearly distinguished from editorial content.

Misconduct and Ethical Concerns

If research misconduct or ethical concerns are suspected, JAHCRI reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate action. Actions may include rejection of manuscripts, retraction of published articles, notification to authors’ affiliated institutions, or restriction of future submissions. All cases are handled according to internationally recognised ethical standards. The journal remains committed to maintaining trust in scholarly communication.