Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

Journal of Midwifery (JOM) welcomes responsible post-publication dialogue and maintains the integrity of the scholarly record through transparent and timely corrections. This policy explains how to submit post-publication comments, how we evaluate and act on concerns, and how we issue corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions in line with COPE guidance.

1. Introduction

  • Post-publication discussion strengthens research quality and clinical relevance in midwifery.

  • JOM provides pathways for readers and authors to raise questions, propose corrections, and alert the editors to potential issues.

  • The version of record is preserved; any changes are documented via formal notices that are free to read and permanently linked.

2. Description

  • Post-publication communications include letters to the editor, scholarly comments, replication notes, and reader queries.

  • Editorial actions include editorial notes, corrections (errata/corrigenda), addenda, expressions of concern, and retractions.

  • Scope of issues ranges from minor typographic errors to substantial errors, ethical concerns, or evidence of misconduct.

3. Policy

3.1 Pathways for discussion

  • Readers and authors may submit comments or concerns by email to the editorial office. Submissions should be specific, evidence-based, and respectful.

  • JOM may invite formal letters to the editor (peer reviewed at the editor’s discretion) when a comment raises substantive scholarly points.

  • We prioritize comments lodged within 12 months of publication; integrity concerns are considered at any time.

3.2 Editorial assessment

  • The handling editor (or a delegated independent editor) screens the submission for clarity, relevance, and potential impact on the record.

  • Where appropriate, we seek authors’ responses, reviewer/expert input, or institutional information.

  • If concerns indicate potential misconduct, the case is managed under the Allegations of Misconduct policy; interim notices may be used.

3.3 Notice types and when we use them

  • Editorial Note: clarifies minor points or context without altering conclusions.

  • Correction

    • Erratum (publisher error) or Corrigendum (author error) for factual inaccuracies, author list/affiliation updates, funding/COI statements, figure/table fixes, or data/code link updates that do not invalidate conclusions.

  • Addendum: adds information that enhances but does not correct the record (e.g., additional dataset release).

  • Expression of Concern: used when there are serious but unresolved doubts (e.g., pending institutional inquiry).

  • Retraction: issued for unreliable findings due to error or misconduct (e.g., fabrication/falsification, plagiarism, unethical research, duplicate publication, compromised peer review). Retractions state who is retracting and why and are linked bidirectionally to the affected article.

  • Retraction and Replacement (rare): for pervasive but honest errors when a corrected new article is required; the original is retracted and remains accessible, and the replacement carries a new DOI with explicit linkage.

3.4 Transparency, permanence, and access

  • All notices are open access, clearly labeled, dated, and linked to the article and metadata records.

  • Corrected articles retain their original DOI; the correction notice receives its own DOI. Retracted articles remain online, watermarked or labeled as Retracted, with links to the notice.

  • We endeavor to propagate updates to indexing services and preservation networks.

3.5 Author, editor, and reader responsibilities

  • Authors must promptly report discovered errors and cooperate with investigations and corrections.

  • Editors ensure independent handling where conflicts exist and apply actions proportionate to the issue.

  • Readers should cite corrected or retracted items responsibly; retracted work should not be cited as evidence, except in discussions of research integrity with clear labeling.

3.6 Appeals

  • Authors may appeal a decision regarding a post-publication notice via the Complaints and Appeals policy. An independent editor reviews the appeal.

4. Technicalities to Achieve and Materialise the Policies

4.1 Submitting a post-publication comment or concern

  • Email jom@med.unand.ac.id with: article title and DOI; specific passages/figures at issue; a concise explanation; and any supporting evidence (e.g., data checks, image analyses). Anonymous submissions are considered if sufficiently detailed and verifiable.

4.2 Evaluation and timelines

  • Acknowledgement within 5 working days; substantive update targeted within 20 working days. Complex cases may take longer; interim updates will be provided.

4.3 Drafting and approving notices

  • The handling editor prepares the draft notice; the EiC (or delegate) approves content and ensures neutral, factual wording. Authors are shown relevant factual portions for comment when feasible, without granting veto.

4.4 Implementing corrections

  • The journal updates the article HTML/PDF and adds a correction footnote; the Data Availability Statement, COI, and funding information are synchronized if amended.

  • The correction notice is published as a separate, citable record with DOI and linked to the article.

4.5 Expressions of concern and retractions

  • Expressions of concern outline the issue, ongoing steps, and expected next update.

  • Retractions specify whether due to error or misconduct; identify affected sections; and clarify whether authors agree. The original article remains accessible with clear retraction labeling and links.

4.6 Metadata, indexing, and archiving

  • We update Crossref/DOI metadata, indexing databases, and archiving services to reflect corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions.

4.7 Legal and privacy considerations

  • In rare cases (e.g., court orders, serious privacy risks), JOM may remove or redact content. A tombstone page will explain the reason at a high level while minimizing harm.

4.8 Social media and third-party platforms

  • Concerns raised on social media or preprint platforms are handled with the same standards: we evaluate evidence, contact authors/institutions as needed, and respond through formal notices rather than informal threads.

Related and supporting policies

Contact

Post-publication comments, corrections, and integrity queries: jom@med.unand.ac.id

Back to Publication Ethics main page: https://jom.fk.unand.ac.id/index.php/jom/ethics