Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy
Artificial Intelligence Usage Policy
Responsible, transparent, and accountable use of AI-assisted technologies
The Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy recognizes that generative artificial intelligence and AI-assisted technologies may support limited aspects of manuscript preparation. Their use must not replace author judgment, scholarly contribution, methodological responsibility, or accountability for the accuracy and integrity of the work.
Core Principle
Authors remain fully responsible for every statement, citation, dataset, analysis, image, interpretation, and conclusion in the manuscript. AI output must be critically reviewed, independently verified, and transparently disclosed where required.
AI Is Not an Author
AI tools cannot meet authorship criteria, approve a manuscript, declare conflicts, or assume responsibility.
Human Accountability
Only human contributors who satisfy the journal’s authorship requirements may be listed as authors.
Permitted Uses
AI-assisted tools may be used under direct author supervision for limited support activities such as:
1. Language Editing
Spelling, grammar, readability, and clarity improvement.
Spelling, grammar, readability, and clarity improvement.
2. Structural Support
Outline development or reorganization of author-written material.
Outline development or reorganization of author-written material.
3. Translation Support
Assistance with translation followed by qualified human review.
Assistance with translation followed by qualified human review.
Prohibited Uses
1. Substantive Ghostwriting
Generating substantial sections or an entire manuscript and presenting the output as original author work.
Generating substantial sections or an entire manuscript and presenting the output as original author work.
2. Fabricated Content
Creating, altering, or inventing data, results, cases, quotations, sources, references, or citations.
Creating, altering, or inventing data, results, cases, quotations, sources, references, or citations.
3. Misleading Images
Generating or manipulating scientific images, figures, or visual evidence in a way that misrepresents the research.
Generating or manipulating scientific images, figures, or visual evidence in a way that misrepresents the research.
4. Undisclosed Use
Submitting materially AI-assisted content without the required declaration.
Submitting materially AI-assisted content without the required declaration.
5. Confidential Data Upload
Entering identifiable participant data, confidential records, copyrighted manuscripts, or restricted information into external AI systems.
Entering identifiable participant data, confidential records, copyrighted manuscripts, or restricted information into external AI systems.
6. Unverified Output
Relying on AI-generated claims, analyses, or citations without independent verification by the authors.
Relying on AI-generated claims, analyses, or citations without independent verification by the authors.
Disclosure and Transparency
Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in a dedicated section titled Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process. The declaration must identify the tool, version where available, purpose, and extent of use.
Example for Disclosed Use
During manuscript preparation, the authors used [tool name and version] for [specific purpose]. All outputs were reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.
Example When No AI Was Used
The authors declare that no generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were used in the preparation of this manuscript.
Author Responsibilities
Accuracy
Verify all facts, citations, references, calculations, interpretations, and language revisions.
Originality
Ensure that AI-assisted text does not reproduce protected, plagiarized, or improperly attributed content.
Confidentiality
Protect participant privacy, unpublished information, intellectual property, and restricted research materials.
Cooperation
Respond accurately to editorial inquiries and provide additional information about AI use when requested.
Editors and Reviewers
Editors and reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, author correspondence, or confidential editorial materials into public or third-party generative AI tools without explicit authorization and appropriate data-protection safeguards. AI tools must not replace independent editorial judgment or expert peer review.
Screening and Enforcement
Suspected misuse is assessed by the editorial team using the manuscript, author disclosures, supporting evidence, and applicable publication-ethics procedures. Automated AI-detection results are not treated as conclusive evidence on their own. Confirmed violations may result in revision requests, rejection, correction, retraction, or further ethical investigation.
Policy Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and may be revised to reflect developments in AI technology, scholarly publishing, research integrity, privacy, and ethical guidance. The current version published on the journal website applies to all active submissions.
AI may support the writing process, but scientific reasoning, verification, originality, and accountability must remain human responsibilities.
