Puitika is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The journal strictly adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations, and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) guidelines where applicable. All parties involved in the publication process—editors, authors, reviewers, and publishers—are expected to adhere to ethical standards to ensure the credibility, transparency, and trustworthiness of scholarly communication.
1. Responsibilities of Authors
Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must submit original work and appropriately cite the work and ideas of others. Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, and image manipulation—is strictly prohibited.
Authorship and Contributorship: Only individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the manuscript should be listed as authors. The order of authorship must be agreed upon prior to submission, and any changes must be approved by all listed authors.
Data Integrity and Availability: Authors must ensure that all data presented are accurate, authentic, and collected according to accepted ethical standards. Data should be made available upon request, in compliance with ethical and legal considerations.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: All authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the results or interpretation of their research.
Ethical Approval for Research: Research involving human participants or animals must receive prior approval from an appropriate ethics committee. Documentation must be available upon request.
Multiple and Concurrent Submissions: Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal or submit previously published work.
2. Responsibilities of Editors
Editorial Independence and Fairness: Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, and the overall quality of the manuscript, without regard to authors’ nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.
Confidentiality: Editors must treat all submissions as confidential documents. Manuscripts and related data must not be disclosed to anyone outside the editorial team and assigned reviewers.
Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling submissions in which a conflict of interest may exist, ensuring that the peer-review process remains objective.
Response to Ethical Complaints: Editors will promptly investigate allegations of misconduct—including plagiarism, data fabrication, and authorship disputes—in accordance with COPE guidelines. Where necessary, corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be issued.
3. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Confidentiality and Objectivity: Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and provide objective, constructive evaluations based on academic merit.
Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and decline review assignments when appropriate.
Ethical Awareness: Reviewers are expected to report suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research practices to the editor.
4. Handling Allegations of Misconduct
Puitika takes allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously. All cases are handled in accordance with COPE’s flowcharts and procedural guidelines. Investigations will be fair, confidential, and thorough. Depending on the findings, outcomes may include retraction, correction, or public clarification.
5. Corrections and Retractions
When errors or ethical issues are identified post-publication, the journal will take appropriate action:
• Correction: for minor errors that do not compromise the integrity of the study.
• Retraction: for major ethical violations such as data fabrication or plagiarism.
• Expression of Concern: if an investigation is ongoing and conclusions have not yet been reached.
6. Ethical Oversight
The editorial board ensures that all research published in Puitika complies with ethical standards, particularly in studies involving human participants, vulnerable populations, or sensitive data. Authors must include statements regarding informed consent, privacy protection, and ethical approvals where appropriate.
This policy reflects Puitika’s commitment to ethical publishing, academic freedom, and the responsible dissemination of knowledge. All stakeholders are urged to uphold these principles in every aspect of the publication process.
1. Responsibilities of Authors
Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must submit original work and appropriately cite the work and ideas of others. Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, and image manipulation—is strictly prohibited.
Authorship and Contributorship: Only individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the manuscript should be listed as authors. The order of authorship must be agreed upon prior to submission, and any changes must be approved by all listed authors.
Data Integrity and Availability: Authors must ensure that all data presented are accurate, authentic, and collected according to accepted ethical standards. Data should be made available upon request, in compliance with ethical and legal considerations.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: All authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the results or interpretation of their research.
Ethical Approval for Research: Research involving human participants or animals must receive prior approval from an appropriate ethics committee. Documentation must be available upon request.
Multiple and Concurrent Submissions: Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal or submit previously published work.
2. Responsibilities of Editors
Editorial Independence and Fairness: Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, relevance to the journal’s scope, and the overall quality of the manuscript, without regard to authors’ nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.
Confidentiality: Editors must treat all submissions as confidential documents. Manuscripts and related data must not be disclosed to anyone outside the editorial team and assigned reviewers.
Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling submissions in which a conflict of interest may exist, ensuring that the peer-review process remains objective.
Response to Ethical Complaints: Editors will promptly investigate allegations of misconduct—including plagiarism, data fabrication, and authorship disputes—in accordance with COPE guidelines. Where necessary, corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be issued.
3. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Confidentiality and Objectivity: Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and provide objective, constructive evaluations based on academic merit.
Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and decline review assignments when appropriate.
Ethical Awareness: Reviewers are expected to report suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research practices to the editor.
4. Handling Allegations of Misconduct
Puitika takes allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously. All cases are handled in accordance with COPE’s flowcharts and procedural guidelines. Investigations will be fair, confidential, and thorough. Depending on the findings, outcomes may include retraction, correction, or public clarification.
5. Corrections and Retractions
When errors or ethical issues are identified post-publication, the journal will take appropriate action:
• Correction: for minor errors that do not compromise the integrity of the study.
• Retraction: for major ethical violations such as data fabrication or plagiarism.
• Expression of Concern: if an investigation is ongoing and conclusions have not yet been reached.
6. Ethical Oversight
The editorial board ensures that all research published in Puitika complies with ethical standards, particularly in studies involving human participants, vulnerable populations, or sensitive data. Authors must include statements regarding informed consent, privacy protection, and ethical approvals where appropriate.
This policy reflects Puitika’s commitment to ethical publishing, academic freedom, and the responsible dissemination of knowledge. All stakeholders are urged to uphold these principles in every aspect of the publication process.