Authorship Ethics

The PIMA Journal of Health Sciences upholds the highest ethical standards in authorship and publication. Authors must adhere to the following principles, in line with the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) (COPE, 2023; ICMJE, 2024).

  1. Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be based on the ICMJE’s four criteria:

  1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the study.
  2. Drafting or critically revising the manuscript for intellectual content.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.
  4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring its integrity and accuracy.

All listed authors must meet these criteria. Individuals who do not meet these requirements should be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgments" section.

  1. Corresponding Author Responsibilities

The corresponding author must ensure that:

  • All listed authors have met the authorship criteria.
  • No individual who meets the criteria is omitted.
  • All co-authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript before submission.
  • Any conflicts of interest are disclosed.
  1. Ethical Conduct & Accountability

Authors are expected to:

  • Ensure originality and avoid plagiarism, including AI-generated content without proper attribution.
  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Provide accurate data and retain raw data for verification upon request.
  • Notify the journal immediately of any significant errors discovered post-publication.
  1. AI and Automated Tools in Authorship

Authors must disclose the use of any AI-generated content or tools used in manuscript preparation. AI tools cannot be credited as authors, as they lack accountability for the work.

  1. Changes in Authorship

Requests to add, remove, or rearrange authors after submission must be justified and approved by all co-authors. Any disputes will be addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

  1. Duplicate Submission & Redundant Publication

Manuscripts must not be submitted to multiple journals simultaneously. Redundant publication, including salami slicing (publishing minor variations of the same research), is strictly prohibited.

  1. Conflict Resolution & Misconduct

Any disputes regarding authorship will be handled according to COPE’s authorship dispute resolution guidelines. Cases of suspected misconduct, including ghost or honorary authorship, will be investigated, and appropriate action will be taken.

  1. Primary Author (First Author)

The first author is typically the individual who has made the most significant intellectual contribution to the research. This includes:

  • Conceptualization: Developing the research question and study design.
  • Data Collection & Analysis: Conducting experiments, gathering data, and analyzing results.
  • Manuscript Writing: Drafting the initial manuscript and making substantial revisions.
  • Accountability: Taking responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

In most cases, the first author is the researcher who has contributed the most hands-on work to the study.

  1. Co-Authors

Co-authors are those who have met the ICMJE’s four authorship criteria, which include:

  1. Substantial contributions to the study’s conception, design, data collection, or interpretation.
  2. Manuscript contribution through drafting or critical revisions.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.
  4. Accountability for all aspects of the work, ensuring accuracy and integrity.

Co-authors may include:

  • Senior Researchers & Supervisors: Often listed as the last author, indicating their role in oversight, mentorship, and securing funding.
  • Statisticians & Data Analysts: If they contributed significantly to study design and data interpretation.
  • Collaborators from Different Disciplines: If they made intellectual contributions beyond technical assistance.
  1. Corresponding Author

The corresponding author is responsible for:

  • Handling manuscript submission and revisions.
  • Communicating with the journal and responding to peer-review queries.
  • Ensuring all authors meet the authorship criteria.
  • Acting as the point of contact after publication.

The corresponding author is often the senior investigator or the first author, depending on the journal’s policies.

  1. Contributors Who Do Not Qualify as Authors

Individuals who assisted but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged rather than listed as authors. These may include:

  • Editorial and Writing Assistance: Technical writers or editors who helped refine the manuscript.
  • Funding Acquisition: Individuals who secured funding but did not contribute intellectually.
  • Data Collection Assistants: Those who gathered data but did not analyze or interpret it.
  1. Authorship Order
  • First Author: Major contributor to research and writing often the principal investigator
  • Middle Authors: Other contributors based on their level of involvement.
  • Last Author: Often the senior researcher, mentor.

 

References

  • COPE (2023). Committee on Publication Ethics. Guidelines on Authorship and Contributorship. Available at: https://publicationethics.org
  • ICMJE (2024). International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals. Available at: http://www.icmje.org