Publication Ethics

The Scientific Journal of Health Sciences Stikes Mataram is fully committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. This policy outlines the ethical responsibilities and expected conduct of all parties involved in the publishing process, including the editor-in-chief, editors, peer reviewers, and authors. The policy is based on Regulation No. 5 of 2014 issued by the Head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) on the Code of Ethics for Scientific Publications and aligns with international standards such as those set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Core Principles of Publication Ethics

The publication process must be guided by three fundamental ethical values:

  1. Neutrality
    Free from conflicts of interest in manuscript management and editorial decision-making.

  2. Fairness
    Ensuring proper recognition and authorship rights for those who have made genuine contributions.

  3. Integrity
    Maintaining scientific honesty by avoiding all forms of duplication, fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism (DF2P).

Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

  • Ensure the accuracy and integrity of data and information published in the journal.

  • Conduct evaluations and report on journal operations and editorial performance.

  • Oversee editorial workflows and daily journal operations.

  • Establish editorial policies and ensure their proper implementation.

  • Make final decisions on manuscripts before print or online publication.

  • Guarantee the quality of the editorial process and the final published product.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Select and edit manuscripts fairly, objectively, and professionally.

  • Manage and collect up-to-date and relevant information related to their assigned sections.

  • Maintain confidentiality and communicate ethically with authors, reviewers, and fellow editors.

  • Evaluate manuscripts solely on scholarly merit without discrimination or bias.

  • Identify and disclose conflicts of interest and handle ethical issues responsibly.

  • Support authors in improving clarity and manuscript quality.

Responsibilities of the Managing Editor / Copy Editor

  • Handle all correspondence with authors regarding formatting and editorial corrections.

  • Edit manuscripts for language, grammar, formatting, and consistency with journal guidelines.

  • Prepare final layouts for print or digital publication.

  • Coordinate with printers or publishing platforms.

  • Verify the accuracy of source materials and bibliographic data.

  • Manage the administrative and technical aspects of the publication process.

Responsibilities of Reviewers (Peer Reviewers)

  • Review manuscripts objectively, fairly, and within their areas of expertise.

  • Provide constructive feedback to help authors improve their work.

  • Maintain confidentiality and not use manuscript content for personal gain.

  • Decline to review manuscripts if a conflict of interest exists.

  • Assess scientific validity, originality, relevance, and contribution of manuscripts.

  • Complete reviews in a timely manner according to journal standards.

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Ensure that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and have made significant contributions.

  • Bear collective responsibility for the content, methodology, analysis, and findings.

  • Disclose sources of funding or institutional support.

  • Respond professionally and timely to reviewer feedback.

  • Promptly notify the editor if withdrawing a manuscript.

  • Declare that the submitted manuscript is original, unpublished elsewhere, and not under consideration by another journal.

  • Accurately cite all sources and provide proper attribution.

Handling Ethical Violations

If ethical violations such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate publication are identified, the journal will:

  1. Conduct an internal investigation based on evidence or reports received.

  2. Contact the author(s) for clarification or response.

  3. If misconduct is confirmed, retract the manuscript and issue a formal retraction notice.

  4. Impose appropriate sanctions, including temporary bans on submissions from offending authors.

Closing Statement

The Scientific Journal of Health Sciences Stikes Mataram affirms that maintaining scientific integrity is essential to ensuring the quality and credibility of scholarly publications. All parties involved in the publication process are expected to understand, adhere to, and consistently uphold this code of ethics in support of scientific progress and public trust.