Correction and Recraction

Commitment to Publication Integrity
Jurnal Sains dan Kesehatan (JSIKA), published by Politeknik Baubau, is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record in of medical and clinical sciences, medical records sciences, public health sciences, midwifery sciences, and pharmaceutical sciences and related fields.

If errors, inaccuracies, or suspected ethical violations are identified in a published article, JSIKA will address them promptly, transparently, objectively, and fairly. This policy is guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly its Retraction Guidelines. Reports or concerns may be raised by authors, readers, peer reviewers, the Editorial Board, authors’ institutions, or other parties with relevant information. Reports may be submitted through JSIKA’s Open Journal Systems (OJS) or via the journal’s official contact details listed on its website.
Types of Editorial Actions
1. Corrections (Erratum/Corrigendum)
  A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article but does not fundamentally affect the validity of the data, methodology, or main conclusions of the research.
  
  Erratum:A correction addressing an error introduced by the journal, such as an editorial, typesetting, layout, or production error. Corrigendum:A correction addressing an error originating from the author, such as an incorrect name, affiliation, table entry, unit of measurement, or figure caption.
  
  Correction notices will be published separately and linked to the original article through reciprocal links. The online version of the article may be updated when necessary, accompanied by a clear record of the changes made so that readers can identify the corrections. Corrections must not be used to conceal errors that substantially undermine the validity of the research findings.
2. Expression of Concern
  An Expression of Concern may be issued when serious concerns arise regarding the integrity or reliability of a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient to justify a retraction, an investigation is still ongoing, or the relevant institution has not yet provided adequate investigation findings.
  
  The statement will be linked to the article concerned and will objectively explain the reasons for its issuance. Once additional information becomes available, JSIKA may decide to issue a correction, retract the article, withdraw the expression of concern if the allegations are not substantiated, or take other appropriate action.
3. Retraction
  A retraction may be issued when an article can no longer be considered a reliable scholarly source. Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1. Fabrication or falsification of research data.
  2. Plagiarism or the use of another party’s work without appropriate attribution.
  3. Duplicate or redundant publication without proper disclosure or the necessary approval.
  4. Serious errors in data, methods, statistical analysis, or interpretation that invalidate the principal findings or conclusions.
  5. Research ethics violations, including failure to obtain ethical approval or informed consent where required for research involving human participants or animals.
  6. Authorship, data ownership, or undisclosed conflict-of-interest issues that materially affect the integrity or reliability of the article.
  7. Manipulation of the peer-review process.
  8. Misleading use of sources, evidence, or information that substantially compromises the integrity of the publication.
  Retraction decisions will be based on the available evidence, the seriousness of the issue, and the outcomes of relevant clarification or investigation procedures. Retraction is not merely a disciplinary measure against authors; it is a means of protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.
Procedures for Handling Corrections and Retractions
1. Receipt and Registration of Reports
  The Editorial Board will receive, record, and acknowledge reports concerning potential errors or ethical violations. JSIKA aims to acknowledge receipt within seven (7) working days, provided that the reporter’s contact information is available and the report can be processed.
  
  Reports should include the article’s identification details, a description of the concern, supporting evidence, and other relevant information. Anonymous reports may also be considered if they contain sufficient evidence to warrant further examination.
2. Preliminary Assessment
  The Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor will conduct a preliminary assessment to evaluate the relevance, credibility, and sufficiency of the evidence. If the report has a reasonable basis, JSIKA will proceed with clarification or further investigation, depending on the nature of the concern.
3. Clarification and Investigation
  The corresponding author will be asked to provide a written explanation and supporting evidence. JSIKA aims to allow fourteen (14) working days for a response from the date the request for clarification is issued. A reasonable extension may be granted depending on the complexity of the case.
  
  When necessary, JSIKA may seek advice from peer reviewers, independent experts, the authors’ institutions, or other relevant parties. Those involved will be given a fair opportunity to provide the information needed to assess the matter.
4. Decision-Making
  Based on the assessment and investigation findings, the Editorial Board will determine the appropriate action, which may include:
  
  issuing an erratum or corrigendum;
  
  issuing an Expression of Concern;
  
  retracting the article;
  
  requesting further clarification or supporting evidence; or
  
  taking no further action if the allegations are not substantiated or the available evidence does not justify additional measures.
  
  Decisions must be based on evidence and publication ethics principles, rather than solely on requests or pressure from any particular party.
5. Notification and Publication of Decisions
  JSIKA will notify the relevant authors and other appropriate parties, including the authors’ institutions or indexing services where necessary. Notices of correction, expressions of concern, and retraction will be made publicly available on the journal’s website to ensure that readers receive adequate information.
Requirements for Retraction Notices
A retraction notice must meet the following requirements:
1. It must be openly accessible and linked to the retracted article.
2. It must identify the article title, author names, and relevant publication details, including the DOI where available.
3. It must identify the party initiating or requesting the retraction, such as the author, editor, publisher, institution, or another relevant party.
4. It must explain the reasons for retraction clearly, objectively, and on the basis of evidence, without making unsupported accusations.
5. It must be published without undue delay after the decision has been made.
6. It must be clearly identified as a retraction notice and, where available, include appropriate metadata to support discoverability by readers and indexing services.
As a general rule, retracted articles will not be removed from the journal’s archive. The articles will remain accessible to preserve the traceability of the scholarly record, with a clear “RETRACTED” label or watermark on the article webpage and PDF document. The retraction notice must be linked to the original article.

Complete removal of an article will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as when required by law, when a serious privacy violation exists, when legally established defamation is involved, or when the article poses a genuine risk to public safety. In such circumstances, JSIKA will consider its legal and ethical obligations and, where possible, retain a notice explaining the reason for removal.
Authors’ Rights and Responsibilities
Authors have the following rights and responsibilities:
1. uthors must promptly notify JSIKA if they discover a material error in their published article.
2. Authors have the right to provide clarification, supporting evidence, or an objection before a final decision is made, where feasible and provided that doing so does not conflict with the need to protect publication integrity.
3. Authors may request a correction or retraction of their own article by submitting a written explanation with valid and justifiable reasons.
4. Authors are expected to cooperate reasonably with the journal during clarification or investigation procedures.
5. If a serious ethical violation is established, JSIKA may take action in accordance with its policies and the severity of the case. Such action may include rejecting future submissions for a specified period or notifying the author’s home institution. Any action must be proportionate and supported by adequate evidence.
A request for retraction submitted by an author does not automatically terminate the journal’s review process or result in the removal of the article from the archive. The final decision remains with the Editorial Board and will be based on the available evidence and publication ethics principles.
Confidentiality and Fees
JSIKA will handle reports concerning corrections and retractions professionally, objectively, and confidentially to the extent possible. The identity of the reporter will be protected where feasible, while taking into account the requirements of a fair and transparent investigation. The journal does not charge any fees for publishing corrections, expressions of concern, or retraction notices.
Contact Information
Reports, inquiries, or requests concerning corrections and retractions may be addressed to:

Editorial Board of Jurnal Sains dan Kesehatan (JSIKA)
PPPM Politeknik Baubau

Jl. Lakarambau, Kel. Lipu, Kec. Betoambari, Phone (0402) 2823600 Fax. (0402) 2823600

Email: pppm@poltekbaubau.ac.id

Reports may be submitted through JSIKA’s OJS platform or via the official contact details listed on the journal’s website.

JSIKA is committed to implementing this policy consistently to maintain the trust of readers, authors, peer reviewers, academic institutions, and the wider community in the quality and integrity of its scholarly publications.