Corrections, Retractions & Editorial Expressions of Concern

The Health and Research Journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or concerns are identified in published content, the journal may issue a correction, an editorial expression of concern, or a retraction, as appropriate.

Corrections (Errata / Corrigenda)

A correction may be published when a portion of an otherwise reliable article is found to be inaccurate or misleading due to an honest error (e.g., typographical errors affecting meaning, errors in data presentation, author details, affiliations, or acknowledgments).
Corrections will:

• clearly identify the original article (including DOI where available),

• describe what has been corrected, and

• be linked to the original article.
  The original article will remain available, with clear notice of the correction.

Editorial Expressions of Concern

An editorial expression of concern may be issued when there are serious, unresolved concerns about the integrity or reliability of an article, but the available information is insufficient to justify retraction (e.g., ongoing institutional investigation, unresolved authorship or ethics concerns).
Expressions of concern will be linked to the original article and updated or replaced by a correction or retraction when the matter is resolved.

Retractions

A retraction may be published when the findings of an article are no longer reliable, including (but not limited to):

• evidence of data fabrication or falsification,

• plagiarism or substantial redundant publication,

• major methodological or analytical errors that invalidate conclusions,

• unethical research (e.g., lack of required ethics approval or informed consent where applicable), or

• compromised peer review or undisclosed conflicts that materially affect the work.

Retractions will:

• be clearly labeled as a retraction,

• identify the retracted article and the reason(s) for retraction (as transparently as possible),

• be linked to the original article, and

• keep the original article online with a clear “Retracted” notice to preserve the scholarly record.

Updates and versioning

Where appropriate, the journal may also publish updates, addenda, or editorial notes. Any post-publication changes will be transparent and linked to the original article.

How concerns are handled

Concerns may be raised by readers, reviewers, editors, or institutions. The journal will assess concerns, contact the corresponding author for a response, and may request supporting documentation. Where appropriate, the journal may liaise with authors’ institutions or relevant bodies.

Decisions regarding corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are made by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor, with input from the handling editor and, where appropriate, independent experts or the authors’ institution(s).

Guidance

The journal follows recognized publication ethics guidance (e.g., COPE) for handling corrections, concerns, and retractions.