Correction Policy

Every article published, whether in a print edition or online, is regarded as the Version of Record (VOR): the conclusive, definitive, and citable representation of the scholarly record (see NISO, 2008).

The VOR encompasses:

• The manuscript, which has been revised and accepted post-peer review, presented in its final format, including the abstract, main text, references, bibliography, and all associated tables, illustrations, and data.
• Any supplementary materials.

Acknowledging a published article as the finalised Version of Record sets the expectation that it can be considered accurate, complete, and citable. Whenever feasible, our policy is to uphold the integrity of the Version of Record in alignment with the guidelines established by the STM Association, which states, "Articles that have been published should remain extant, exact, and unaltered to the maximum extent possible." Occasionally, it may be necessary to amend the Version of Record after publication. Such changes will be executed following thorough deliberation by the Editors to ensure that any required modifications adhere to the guidance provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Regarding corrections to both print and online versions of their peer-reviewed contents, the International Community Health Journal (ICHJ) implements the following policy.

Amendments that are publishable and impact the publication record and scientific accuracy of the published information will receive a DOI and will be published in both print and online formats in the journal. There are four relevant categories of amendments for peer-reviewed material: Erratum or Publisher Correction, Corrigendum or Author Correction, Retraction, and Addendum. Each of these correction types is bi-directionally linked to the original published article. Detailed descriptions of each amendment category are provided below.

1. Erratum or Publisher Correction

Notification of significant errors committed by the journal that impact the publication record, the scientific integrity of the manuscript, or the reputation of the authors and the journal itself.  ICHJ distinguishes between major and minor errors, as detailed below:

• Major errors or omissions. This kind of error is classified as erratum, which refers to any alterations that affect the interpretation of the article while maintaining its scholarly integrity. A separate erratum will accompany all significant errors. It must clearly outline the nature of the error and the modifications made to the Version of Record. In such cases, ICHJ will:
  1. Amend the online article.
  2. Publish a separate erratum that is electronically linked to the corrected version.
  3. Include a footnote in the article displaying the electronic link to the erratum.
  4. Number and make the erratum accessible in the journal's online issue.
• Minor errors. This kind of error, on the other hand, will not necessitate a separate erratum. Instead, a footnote will be added to inform readers that the article has been corrected. Minor errors do not compromise the reliability of the scholarly content or the reader's comprehension.

Examples of minor errors include:

• Minor adjustments or corrections in layout.
• Typos or grammatical errors in the main text that do not alter the content or meaning of a sentence. However, if the number of typos is substantial, a separate erratum or corrigendum may be required, as this could change the meaning. Similarly, a separate erratum or corrigendum is necessary if a typo appears in the title.
• Minor corrections in references, provided that the reference remains fundamentally unchanged (the publisher typically does not update broken links to external websites, as link decay is anticipated over time).
• Metadata in the PDF file may be updated as long as it does not alter the metadata in the system (for instance, if the article's PDF lacked the correspondence address or complete affiliations of each author, it can be updated).

2. Corrigendum or Author Correction

Notification of a significant error committed by the author(s) that impacts the publication record, the scientific integrity of the manuscript, or the reputation of the authors or the journal.

In ICHJ, authors are afforded multiple opportunities to review and approve their manuscripts prior to publication, including during the copyediting and proofreading stages. However, with the exceptions noted previously, no modifications can be made after the article has been published unless a corrigendum is issued, which may involve costs for the author.

To initiate the publication of a corrigendum, the author must first submit a request to the journal, providing a brief description of the necessary corrections. Subsequently, the editors will assess the request and investigate the nature and seriousness of the error, if applicable.

There are four potential outcomes:

1. The error was introduced after the final proofreading stage, or the authors identified it during proofreading, and we failed to address it. In this case, as it falls under the publisher's responsibility, we will submit a corrigendum on behalf of the authors at no cost to them.
2. The error pertains to an update or correction of information in the original submission or serves as an addendum. This error was present in the proofs, and the authors did not make the necessary corrections at that time. Requests such as "I forgot to acknowledge someone" are considered "Discretionary Corrections," as they are oversights for which the authors are responsible but do not significantly impact the validity of the paper. The editors may correct this but reserve the right to impose a fee of $20 for the publication of the corrigendum, updating the original article, linking it to the corrigendum, and resubmitting the article to various databases.
3. The editors may determine that the error mentioned does not constitute a problem that necessitates any action or correction.
4. The error is a minor formatting change that can be addressed without the need for a corrigendum.

In cases 1 or 2, a corrigendum must be published, and a correction notice must be disseminated to various databases to inform them of the changes.

3. Retraction

Notification of invalid results that compromise the integrity of a previously published article. The original article has been officially marked as retracted but continues to be accessible to readers. The retraction notice, which informs readers of the article's invalidity, is linked in both directions to the original publication.

4. Addendum

Notification of supplementary information regarding a paper. Addenda are issued when the editorial team determines that the supplementary information is essential for the reader's comprehension of a significant aspect of the published work. The addenda may include an Editorial Expression of Concern and an editorial statement that highlights serious issues related to the published paper. The Editorial Expression of Concern is generally revised with further updates as new information becomes available.

Apart from the four amendments, ICHJ may exercise the option of article removal. This action will be taken only in rare situations where the issues are particularly severe and cannot be resolved through a Retraction or Correction notice. The editors will evaluate the possibility of removing a published article in limited scenarios, such as:

• When the article includes content that could lead to serious consequences if acted upon.
• When the article breaches the privacy rights of a participant in the study.
• When the article is defamatory or infringes upon other legal rights.
• When the article is subject to a court order.

If an article is removed from ICHJ, a notice of removal will be issued in its place.

Withdrawal Policy

Certain authors may seek to withdraw their manuscripts from the publication process following submission. However, such withdrawals can lead to a significant waste of resources and considerable effort expended by editors, reviewers, and the editorial team in managing these manuscripts.

The submission of an article to ICHJ indicates that the work has not been published or submitted elsewhere; thus, the journal firmly opposes the unethical retraction of an article post-submission. Upon submission, the author confers full publishing rights to the publisher, and it is solely the editorial board's prerogative to determine the appropriateness of any withdrawal requests.

For a legitimate withdrawal, the corresponding author must submit a request, duly signed by all co-authors, detailing the rationale for the retraction. If valid reasons are presented, the editorial board will evaluate the request. The board's decision will be conclusive and not subject to negotiation. Should an author wish to withdraw within three days of submission, they may do so without incurring any withdrawal fee; however, if the manuscript is withdrawn after review and acceptance, a cost of $100 will be applicable.