Post-Publication Discussion

Scientific Journal of Nursing Research (SJNR) · Publication Ethics and Editorial Policies

Scientific Journal of Nursing Research (SJNR) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal published by the Department of Nursing, Poltekkes Kemenkes Pontianak, Indonesia.

SJNR welcomes constructive, evidence-based, and academically rigorous discussion of articles published in the journal. Readers, researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, and authors may raise scientific questions, provide critical assessments, propose alternative interpretations, identify potential errors, or report concerns that require editorial attention.

Publication does not mark the end of scholarly evaluation or scientific debate. Research findings remain open to further examination, replication, critical appraisal, and reconsideration in light of new evidence.

SJNR recognizes that post-publication discussion is an essential component of scholarly communication, particularly in nursing and healthcare research, where the accuracy and reliability of published findings may influence clinical practice, nursing education, healthcare policy, patient safety, and evidence-based decision-making.

This policy is informed by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) concerning post-publication discussions, corrections, editorial accountability, and the integrity of the scholarly record.

The journal is committed to facilitating respectful scientific dialogue, protecting the rights of all parties, addressing credible concerns fairly, and ensuring that significant errors or integrity issues are handled through appropriate editorial procedures.

The submission of a critical comment does not automatically establish that a published article is incorrect, nor does scientific disagreement alone constitute research misconduct.

1. Scope of Discussion

Scientific Journal of Nursing Research encourages substantive post-publication discussions that contribute to the interpretation, critical evaluation, scientific reliability, and continued development of published nursing and healthcare research.

Discussion must relate directly to an identifiable article published in SJNR and should provide a clear scholarly purpose.

Relevant contributions may address the following areas.

Scientific Interpretation and Conclusions

Comments may examine the interpretation of research findings, the validity of conclusions, the consistency of arguments, or the implications of published results for nursing science and clinical practice.

Contributors may propose alternative explanations, identify limitations affecting the interpretation of findings, or discuss whether conclusions are adequately supported by the evidence presented.

Disagreement with an author's interpretation is acceptable when expressed through reasoned argument, relevant evidence, and appropriate scholarly references.

Research Design and Methodology

Constructive criticism may concern the appropriateness, transparency, or implementation of research methodologies, including:

Research design and methodological suitability.
Participant selection, sampling procedures, and sample size.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Validity and reliability of research instruments.
Intervention development, implementation, and fidelity.
Potential sources of bias, confounding, and methodological limitations.
Appropriateness of outcome measures and follow-up periods.
Generalizability, transferability, and applicability of findings.

For clinical and nursing intervention studies, discussions may also address the appropriateness of comparison groups, intervention protocols, adherence measurements, and clinically meaningful outcomes.

Statistical Analysis and Data Interpretation

Comments may identify potential statistical errors or request clarification concerning:

Selection and application of statistical tests.
Assumptions underlying statistical analyses.
Interpretation of p-values, confidence intervals, and effect sizes.
Missing data, outliers, or inconsistent sample sizes.
Statistical adjustment for confounding variables.
Discrepancies between tables, figures, reported results, and conclusions.
Reproducibility of analytical procedures.

A statistical concern should identify the specific analysis or reported result and explain why further clarification or reassessment is warranted.

Clinical Relevance and Patient Safety

Because SJNR publishes research relevant to nursing and healthcare, post-publication discussions may address the clinical significance and potential patient safety implications of published findings.

Relevant concerns may include:

Claims about the effectiveness or safety of nursing interventions.
Interpretation of clinical outcomes and adverse events.
Inappropriate generalization of findings to vulnerable patient populations.
Recommendations that exceed the available scientific evidence.
Potentially misleading clinical implications or practice recommendations.
Limitations affecting the implementation of findings in healthcare settings.

Where a credible concern indicates a potentially serious risk to patient safety or public health, the editorial team may prioritize its assessment and consider whether timely clarification or another editorial notice is necessary.

Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity

Contributors may raise substantiated questions concerning:

Research ethics approval and informed consent.
Protection of patient privacy and confidentiality.
Data authenticity, completeness, or consistency.
Possible plagiarism or redundant publication.
Authorship and contributorship concerns.
Undisclosed competing interests.
Image, figure, or data manipulation.
Potentially misleading reporting of research findings.

Such concerns may require confidential investigation rather than publication as ordinary scholarly correspondence.

Scientific Disagreement and Professional Respect

SJNR recognizes that differences in theoretical perspectives, research methods, clinical interpretation, and professional judgment are legitimate aspects of scientific progress.

Scholarly disagreement alone does not constitute evidence of error, misconduct, or scientific unreliability.

Contributions must engage with the research and its supporting evidence rather than criticize the personal characteristics, professional status, or institutional affiliation of the authors.

The journal will not reject a scientifically relevant criticism merely because it challenges the conclusions of a published article, the reputation of its authors, or a previous editorial decision.

2. How to Submit a Comment

Readers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and other interested parties may submit post-publication comments or scientific concerns through the official editorial office of Scientific Journal of Nursing Research.

Submissions should be directed through the journal's Contact Page.

The recommended email subject line is:

Post-Publication Discussion: [Article Title]

Required Submission Information

A submission should include the following information.

Article Identification

Complete title of the published article.
Names of the original article authors.
Publication year, volume, and issue, where applicable.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI), if available, or the permanent article URL.

Commenter Information

Full name of the individual submitting the comment.
Institutional affiliation, where applicable.
Valid contact email address.
Relevant professional or academic background, when necessary to contextualize the contribution.

Description of the Scientific Concern

A clear statement of the issue being raised.
Identification of relevant paragraphs, pages, tables, figures, methods, or findings.
Explanation of why the issue requires clarification, reconsideration, or editorial attention.
Supporting scholarly references, evidence, or analytical information, where appropriate.
A clear distinction between established facts, interpretations, and unresolved questions.

Declarations and Publication Preferences

Disclosure of any relevant financial or non-financial competing interests.
Indication of whether the comment is intended for possible public scholarly discussion or confidential editorial consideration.
Any reasonable request for confidentiality, accompanied by an explanation when appropriate.

Format and Quality of Comments

Comments should be concise, focused, professionally written, and sufficiently detailed to permit meaningful editorial assessment.

Contributors should avoid unnecessary repetition, unsupported accusations, excessive speculation, or arguments unrelated to the published article.

Where possible, comments should rely on verifiable evidence, relevant scientific literature, recognized research methodology, or reproducible analytical reasoning.

Submissions containing original patient-level data, clinical images, or other information involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical approval, consent, and confidentiality requirements.

Personally identifiable patient information, identifiable medical records, confidential clinical documentation, and other sensitive health data must not be submitted through ordinary editorial correspondence unless an appropriate secure and authorized procedure has been established.

Confidential and Anonymous Reports

Individuals reporting potentially sensitive concerns may request that their identities be treated confidentially.

The journal will consider reasonable confidentiality requests, particularly where disclosure may create legitimate professional, institutional, or personal risks.

Anonymous reports may be assessed when they contain sufficiently specific, credible, and verifiable evidence.

However, anonymous allegations are not automatically eligible for publication as scholarly commentary.

The journal may require additional information before deciding whether a confidential or anonymous report can be adequately assessed.

Submission Period

There is no fixed expiry date for raising a substantive scientific or ethical concern about an article published in SJNR.

The journal recognizes that errors, methodological concerns, and relevant new evidence may emerge long after publication.

The age of an article does not, by itself, justify rejecting a credible concern about the reliability or integrity of published research.

3. Editorial Assessment

All post-publication comments received by Scientific Journal of Nursing Research will be considered through an appropriate editorial assessment process.

The purpose of the assessment is to determine whether the submission presents a relevant, sufficiently supported, and constructive contribution to scientific discussion or identifies a concern requiring formal editorial action.

Initial Editorial Screening

An authorized editor without a relevant conflict of interest will conduct an initial assessment of the submission.

The assessment will consider:

Relevance to an identifiable article published in SJNR.
Scientific significance and potential contribution to scholarly discussion.
Clarity, accuracy, and coherence of the arguments presented.
Adequacy of supporting evidence and references.
Whether the concerns identify a substantive issue rather than a minor difference in opinion.
Compliance with professional communication and publication ethics standards.
Potential implications for research reliability, clinical practice, or patient safety.

The editor may request clarification, additional supporting evidence, or revision before proceeding with further consideration.

Independent Scientific Assessment

When a comment involves complex scientific, clinical, methodological, or statistical issues, the editorial team may seek an assessment from an independent expert.

Independent assessment may be particularly appropriate when the submission concerns:

Complex statistical analyses.
Clinical intervention effectiveness or patient safety.
Questions regarding research design or methodological validity.
Data discrepancies that may affect major conclusions.
Conflicting scientific interpretations requiring specialist expertise.
Substantial concerns about the reliability of published findings.

Any expert appointed to assess the matter must have relevant qualifications and must disclose potential conflicts of interest.

Where possible, individuals involved in the original editorial assessment should not serve as the sole independent assessors of serious concerns involving their previous decisions.

Standards of Professional Communication

SJNR supports rigorous criticism but requires respectful scholarly communication.

The journal will not publish contributions containing:

Personal attacks, harassment, or intimidation.
Discriminatory or defamatory statements.
Unsupported allegations presented as established facts.
Threats or attempts to pressure authors, editors, or reviewers.
Promotional or commercially motivated content unrelated to scientific discussion.
Unnecessary disclosure of confidential or sensitive information.

Where a submission contains inappropriate language but raises a credible scientific concern, the editor may request revision of the wording while evaluating the substantive concern separately.

A contributor's failure to use appropriate language does not automatically eliminate the journal's responsibility to examine independently credible evidence of serious error or misconduct.

Editorial Decisions

Following assessment, the journal may:

Accept the comment for publication or further editorial preparation.
Request clarification, revision, or additional supporting evidence.
Invite the original authors to respond.
Obtain independent scientific or methodological advice.
Refer the matter to the journal's research misconduct procedures.
Initiate consideration of a correction or other post-publication notice.
Decline publication of a comment that lacks sufficient scholarly relevance, evidence, or constructive value.

Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication.

However, editorial decisions must not be based on whether the comment is favorable or unfavorable to the original authors, journal editors, publishing institution, or conclusions of the published work.

Relevant editorial decisions and supporting considerations should be documented in the journal's records.

4. Author Responses

Authors of articles published in Scientific Journal of Nursing Research will normally be offered an opportunity to respond to substantive scientific criticism concerning their work.

The journal recognizes the importance of allowing original authors to clarify research procedures, explain analytical decisions, provide supporting evidence, and address questions raised by readers.

Invitation to Respond

When a comment is considered suitable for further scholarly discussion, the editorial office may contact the corresponding author and provide the substantive points requiring a response.

The editorial office will specify a reasonable response period based on the nature, complexity, and significance of the issues raised.

The journal may communicate with additional co-authors when their involvement is necessary to address specific methodological, clinical, ethical, or analytical questions.

Content of Author Responses

Responses should:

Address the scientific questions or concerns directly.
Provide clear explanations supported by relevant evidence.
Clarify research design, procedures, or analytical decisions where necessary.
Acknowledge legitimate methodological limitations.
Explain discrepancies or apparent inconsistencies in the published article.
Identify and acknowledge confirmed errors.
Avoid personal attacks or unsupported criticism of the commenter.

Authors may provide relevant additional analyses or supporting information when appropriate.

However, new analyses must be clearly distinguished from those presented in the original published article.

Substantial new research findings that extend beyond the original study may be more appropriately submitted as a separate scholarly manuscript.

Requests for Additional Time

Authors may request additional time to prepare a response when justified by the complexity of the concerns, the need to verify research records, or the involvement of multiple co-authors.

Reasonable requests will be considered by the editorial team.

Failure to Respond

Failure to respond to a post-publication comment does not automatically establish that the criticism is correct or that the original article contains an error.

However, non-response does not prevent the journal from conducting an independent assessment or publishing a scientifically appropriate comment.

Original authors do not have veto power over legitimate, evidence-based scholarly criticism.

Where appropriate, the journal may proceed with publication of an accepted comment or another editorial action while accurately describing the status of any author response.

Assessment of Author Responses

Author responses are subject to the same expectations of scientific accuracy, relevance, transparency, professional conduct, and disclosure of competing interests that apply to the original comments.

The journal may request revisions or seek independent advice before accepting a response for publication.

5. Publication of Discussions

Scientific Journal of Nursing Research may publish accepted post-publication contributions when they provide substantive scholarly value and meet the journal's editorial standards.

The journal aims to preserve a transparent and accessible record of significant scientific exchanges relating to its published articles.

Forms of Published Discussion

Depending on the nature and purpose of the contribution, accepted material may be published as:

Comment or Letter to the Editor

A focused scholarly contribution addressing specific aspects of a previously published article, such as its methods, results, conclusions, or clinical implications.

Author Response

A formal response from the original article authors addressing questions, evidence, or arguments raised in an accepted comment.

Editorial Note

An editorial communication providing clarification, contextual information, or an explanation of relevant editorial considerations.

These publication categories must be distinguished from original research articles, systematic reviews, and other independently defined manuscript types.

Editorial Assessment and Peer Review

Comments, letters, and author responses will undergo editorial assessment.

Independent expert review may be undertaken when the scientific complexity or significance of the issues warrants additional evaluation.

Such correspondence must not be described as externally peer-reviewed unless an appropriate external peer review process has actually been completed.

Publication decisions remain the responsibility of the authorized editor.

Linking to the Original Article

Accepted post-publication discussions should clearly identify the published article to which they refer.

Where technically feasible, the journal will provide links between:

The original published article.
The accepted comment or letter.
The corresponding author response, if published.
Any associated editorial note or formal post-publication notice.

Where appropriate and supported by the journal's publishing system, published correspondence should include accurate bibliographic metadata and persistent identifiers.

These links are intended to help readers understand the scientific exchange and locate relevant information without obscuring the original publication record.

Publication of Comments and Responses

The journal may publish an accepted comment together with the corresponding author response when both are available and editorially appropriate.

Alternatively, a comment and response may be published separately, particularly when publication of the comment should not be delayed unnecessarily.

The decision will take into account scientific relevance, author communication, editorial readiness, and the public interest in timely access to important information.

Further Exchanges

Additional scholarly correspondence may be considered when it introduces significant new evidence, methodological clarification, or substantive analytical insight.

The journal is not obligated to continue repetitive exchanges that do not materially advance the discussion.

Where an exchange is closed, the editorial office should communicate the decision and provide an appropriate explanation when requested.

External Post-Publication Discussions

SJNR recognizes that scientific discussions may also occur through academic conferences, professional forums, scholarly correspondence, or independent post-publication review platforms.

Credible concerns identified through external discussions may inform the journal's editorial consideration.

However, individuals seeking formal investigation, correction, or another editorial action should contact the SJNR editorial office directly.

The journal cannot guarantee that it will identify or continuously monitor every discussion published on external platforms.

6. Errors and Integrity Concerns

Scientific Journal of Nursing Research is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and ethical integrity of its published scholarly record.

When a post-publication comment identifies a possible error or concern affecting published research, the journal will determine whether the matter can be appropriately addressed through scholarly discussion or requires a formal editorial investigation.

Scientific Errors and Corrections

Errors may involve factual inaccuracies, numerical mistakes, incorrect references, mislabeled figures, reporting inconsistencies, or other problems identified after publication.

Where an error can be corrected without fundamentally undermining the reliability of the article's principal findings and conclusions, the journal may issue a formal correction.

A correction should:

Clearly identify the original article.
Describe the nature of the error.
Provide the corrected information.
Explain the relevant effect on the article's interpretation where necessary.
Preserve the transparency and traceability of the scholarly record.

Material corrections must not be implemented through undocumented changes that conceal the original error.

Significant Concerns Requiring Investigation

Some post-publication concerns may raise questions about the reliability or ethical integrity of published research.

Examples include:

Suspected fabrication or falsification of research data.
Serious discrepancies between reported and verifiable findings.
Evidence of unethical research involving human participants.
Significant errors affecting major clinical conclusions.
Potentially misleading statistical analysis that materially changes interpretation.
Inappropriate manipulation of clinical images or figures.
Undisclosed duplicate publication or plagiarism.
Serious authorship or competing interest concerns.

Such matters will be assessed according to the journal's established Research Misconduct Handling Policy.

The journal may seek independent expert evaluation, request appropriate supporting documentation, communicate with the authors, or refer matters requiring institutional investigation to the relevant research institution or research ethics committee.

The journal should not publicly disclose identifiable participant information or confidential investigation material unnecessarily.

Expression of Concern

An expression of concern may be considered when substantial doubts exist regarding the reliability or integrity of a published article but the available evidence is insufficient to reach a definitive conclusion.

Such a notice should accurately describe the nature of the concern without presenting unverified allegations as established facts.

An expression of concern may remain appropriate while relevant investigations or assessments are ongoing.

Retraction

Retraction may be warranted when there is sufficient evidence that an article contains serious errors, unreliable findings, or other substantial problems that render its principal conclusions unreliable.

Retraction may result from honest error or research misconduct, depending on the circumstances.

The purpose of retraction is to protect the integrity of the scholarly record and alert readers to unreliable publications, rather than to punish authors.

Retraction decisions must be based on appropriate evidence and an impartial editorial assessment, consistent with recognized publication ethics principles.

A retraction notice must clearly identify the affected article, explain the reason for retraction, and remain appropriately linked to the original publication.

Distinguishing Scientific Debate from Misconduct

SJNR explicitly distinguishes between:

Legitimate scientific disagreement.
Errors that can be corrected.
Unresolved concerns about research reliability.
Substantiated research or publication misconduct.

A methodological limitation, difference in interpretation, or disagreement over conclusions does not automatically warrant correction or retraction.

Similarly, publishing a comment or author response does not replace the obligation to issue a formal correction or another appropriate notice when the published scholarly record requires amendment.

Patient Safety and Confidential Research Information

Where published research raises a credible concern with potentially serious implications for patient safety, clinical nursing practice, or public health, the editorial team may prioritize its assessment.

When necessary and appropriate, the journal may consult independent clinical experts or relevant institutions to determine whether an editorial clarification or formal notice is warranted.

Any request for access to clinical research data must respect patient confidentiality, informed consent, applicable ethical approvals, data protection requirements, and legitimate institutional restrictions.

The journal will not require public disclosure of identifiable patient information as a condition for evaluating scientific criticism.

Documentation and Transparency

All material post-publication actions should be documented appropriately.

Where a correction, expression of concern, or retraction is issued, the relevant publication notices should be publicly accessible and linked to the original article whenever technically feasible.

The journal must avoid misleading changes to publication dates, authorship records, article content, or bibliographic metadata.

The preservation of an accurate scholarly record remains a fundamental responsibility of SJNR's editorial management.

7. Communication and Appeals

Scientific Journal of Nursing Research is committed to maintaining fair, transparent, respectful, and accountable communication throughout the post-publication discussion process.

Acknowledgment and Editorial Communication

The editorial office will endeavor to acknowledge submissions when valid contact information is available.

Contributors may be contacted for clarification, additional evidence, revision, or information needed for further evaluation.

The duration of assessment will depend on the complexity of the concern, the availability of supporting evidence, the need for author responses, and whether independent scientific or ethical advice is required.

The journal will avoid providing unsupported guarantees regarding the completion date of an investigation or the publication of a comment.

Where possible, the editorial office will communicate significant developments and the final editorial outcome to the relevant parties.

Requests for Reconsideration

A contributor or author who believes that an editorial decision involved a significant factual error, procedural irregularity, undisclosed conflict of interest, or failure to consider relevant evidence may request reconsideration.

Requests should be submitted through the SJNR Contact Page.

The recommended email subject line is:

Post-Publication Discussion Appeal: [Article Title]

An appeal should include:

Identification of the article and disputed editorial decision.
A clear explanation of the grounds for reconsideration.
Relevant evidence or supporting documentation.
An explanation of why the information may materially affect the original decision.

Appeals should focus on substantive factual or procedural concerns rather than disagreement with an editorial outcome alone.

Independent Review of Appeals

Where feasible, appeals should be assessed by an editor or independent academic adviser who was not responsible for the disputed decision and has no relevant competing interest.

An appeal concerning the conduct or decision of a particular editor must not be determined solely by that editor.

Matters involving the Editor-in-Chief should be referred to the responsible publishing institution, Poltekkes Kemenkes Pontianak, for independent and impartial consideration.

If the publishing institution or another responsible party has a relevant conflict, an appropriately qualified independent adviser may be consulted.

Confidentiality and Protection of Participants

The journal will treat individuals involved in post-publication discussions, complaints, and investigations fairly and professionally.

Confidential information must be shared only with individuals who have legitimate responsibilities in assessing or resolving the matter.

The journal will seek to protect individuals who raise credible concerns in good faith from inappropriate retaliation while also protecting the rights and reputations of those whose work is questioned.

The submission of a concern does not establish wrongdoing, and all relevant parties should be afforded a fair opportunity to provide information when appropriate.

Final Editorial Responsibility

The authorized editor retains responsibility for decisions concerning the publication of comments, author responses, editorial notes, and appropriate post-publication actions.

These decisions must be based on scientific evidence, editorial independence, ethical considerations, and the reliability of the published scholarly record.

SJNR will periodically review its post-publication discussion procedures to maintain consistency with developments in nursing research, biomedical publication ethics, and internationally recognized standards of scholarly communication.

Scientific Journal of Nursing Research (SJNR)

Published by the Department of Nursing
Poltekkes Kemenkes Pontianak, Indonesia

P-ISSN: 2655-0024
E-ISSN: 2655-6731

Official Website:
https://ejournal.poltekkes-pontianak.ac.id/index.php/SJNR/index

Editorial Contact:
https://ejournal.poltekkes-pontianak.ac.id/index.php/SJNR/about/contact

Editorial Office Email:
ejournalpoltekkespnt@gmail.com

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Scientific Journal of Nursing Research

ISSN 2460-1853 (Print)
ISSN 2715-727X (Online)
Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Pontianak Jurusan keperawatan
Jl. 28 Oktober, Siantan Hulu, Kecamatan Pontianak Utara, Kota Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Barat 78124
Telp : (0561) 737639
email: snjr.polkespon@gmail.com

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