Generative Artificial Inteligence (AI) Policy

The Journal for Quality in Public Health (JQPH) recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies may support scholarly writing, language editing, data analysis, and other research-related activities. However, their use must be transparent, responsible, and consistent with research integrity and publication ethics.

This policy establishes the requirements for the use of generative AI by authors, peer reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the journal's publication process. It is informed by the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the position of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). <Link url="https://icmje.org/recommendations/browse/artificial-intelligence/" title="ICMJE Recommendations on AI"/>; <Link url="https://doi.org/10.24318/cCVRZBms" title="COPE Position on AI Authorship"/> àBUAT AKTIF LINKNYA

1. Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies for appropriate purposes, such as language editing, grammar correction, translation, outlining, and other forms of writing assistance. The use of AI for research-related activities, including data processing, statistical analysis, coding, image generation, or interpretation, must be scientifically justified and accurately reported where relevant.

Authors must ensure that all AI-assisted content is critically reviewed and verified before submission. AI-generated output may contain inaccurate information, fabricated references, misleading interpretations, bias, or content that resembles existing copyrighted material.

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, validity, integrity, and ethical acceptability of their manuscripts, including any content generated or modified with the assistance of AI.

2. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such tools have contributed to the preparation, development, analysis, or presentation of the submitted work in a manner relevant to its scholarly content.

The disclosure should identify:

• The name of the AI tool and, where available, its version.
• The purpose for which the tool was used.
• The specific tasks or parts of the work supported by the tool.
• The extent of human verification and responsibility for the resulting content, where relevant.

The disclosure should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Acknowledgments or Methods section, depending on the nature of the AI use. Authors must also provide any required disclosure in the cover letter or submission declaration.

Routine spelling, grammar, and formatting assistance that does not affect the scholarly content may not require a separate statement unless requested by the journal. Authors should disclose substantive AI assistance and follow any additional instructions provided during submission.

3. AI Tools Must Not Be Listed as Authors

Generative AI tools, chatbots, and other AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to JQPH.

Authorship requires human accountability for the work, including responsibility for its accuracy, integrity, originality, and compliance with publication ethics. Authors must ensure that all listed human contributors meet the journal's authorship criteria.

4. Accuracy, Originality, and Research Integrity

Authors must not rely on AI-generated content without independent verification. In particular, authors must:

• Verify the accuracy and relevance of all factual statements, statistics, and interpretations.
• Check that every cited reference exists and accurately supports the relevant claim.
• Ensure that quotations, paraphrases, and third-party materials are properly attributed.
• Confirm that AI-assisted text, figures, images, tables, and other materials do not infringe copyright or violate applicable permissions.
• Ensure that AI tools have not been used to fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or misrepresent research data, results, images, or references.
• Comply with applicable research ethics requirements, including the protection of personal, confidential, and sensitive information.

AI-generated material must not be used to disguise plagiarism, fabricate evidence, or mislead readers about how the research was conducted.

5. Use of AI in Research Methods and Data Analysis

When AI tools materially contribute to research procedures, data processing, statistical analysis, coding, image generation, or other methodological activities, authors must describe their use in sufficient detail in the relevant manuscript section.

The description should enable readers and reviewers to understand the role of the AI tool and assess the reliability and reproducibility of the research, where applicable.

Authors must not present AI-generated analysis or interpretations as independently verified findings without appropriate methodological justification and human evaluation. The use of AI does not replace the need for valid research design, appropriate statistical methods, ethical approval where required, or transparent reporting.

6. Use of AI by Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers must protect the confidentiality of all manuscripts, supplementary files, research data, and communications received during the review process.

Reviewers must not upload or disclose submitted manuscripts, unpublished findings, reviewer reports, or confidential editorial communications to public or third-party AI systems unless the journal has explicitly authorized the use and adequate confidentiality and data-protection safeguards are assured.

Reviewers must not delegate their critical evaluation or editorial recommendations entirely to AI tools. They remain responsible for the accuracy, fairness, originality, and appropriateness of their review comments.

Any permitted substantive use of AI in preparing a review must be disclosed to the journal in accordance with the journal's instructions. Reviewers must follow the journal's confidentiality requirements and any applicable restrictions on AI-assisted reviewing.

7. Use of AI by Editors and Editorial Staff

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality, impartiality, and integrity of the editorial process.

Submitted manuscripts and confidential editorial materials must not be uploaded to AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured, unless the necessary authorization and safeguards are in place.

Editors must not rely solely on AI-generated assessments to make decisions regarding manuscript acceptance, rejection, research validity, publication ethics, or reviewer selection. Editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the authorized human editor.

If AI tools are used by the journal for editorial or production purposes in a manner that materially affects published content, the journal will provide appropriate disclosure where necessary. All AI-assisted outputs must be checked by responsible human personnel before use.

8. AI-Generated Images and Other Visual Materials

The use of AI to generate, alter, or enhance figures, photographs, illustrations, or other visual materials must be disclosed when it materially contributes to the submitted work.

AI-generated or AI-modified visual materials must not misrepresent research observations, experimental results, clinical findings, or other scientific evidence. Authors must ensure that such materials are scientifically appropriate, accurately described, and compliant with copyright, licensing, research ethics, and applicable privacy requirements.

Where AI-generated images are not appropriate for the type of scientific evidence being reported, the journal may reject their use. Authors should consult the journal if the acceptability of a particular use is uncertain.

9. Undisclosed or Inappropriate Use of AI

Failure to disclose substantive AI use, fabricated AI-generated references, manipulated research outputs, or other inappropriate uses of AI may result in editorial action.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may request clarification, additional documentation, or manuscript revisions; reject a submission; suspend the review process; or initiate an investigation in accordance with its publication ethics procedures.

For articles that have already been published, concerns may lead to a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, depending on the seriousness of the issue and its effect on the reliability of the published record.

Any action will be based on an assessment of the available evidence and the journal's applicable policies.

10. Editorial Responsibility and Policy Updates

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team are responsible for implementing and interpreting this policy. JQPH may request further information from authors, reviewers, or editors regarding AI use when necessary to ensure transparency and publication integrity.

As AI technologies and scholarly publishing standards continue to evolve, JQPH may periodically review and update this policy. Any revisions will be communicated through the journal's official website.

The journal's fundamental principle is that AI may assist scholarly work, but it cannot replace human responsibility, critical judgment, ethical conduct, or accountability for published research