Plagiarism Policy of the International Journal of Medical Science and Dental Health (IJMSDH)

The International Journal of Medical Science and Dental Health (IJMSDH) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical publishing. The journal expects all submitted manuscripts to represent the authors' own original work and to properly acknowledge the contributions of others through appropriate citation and referencing.

Plagiarism in any form is considered a serious violation of publication ethics and is not tolerated by the journal.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an individual presents another person's ideas, words, data, images, results, or intellectual work as their own without proper acknowledgment.

Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text from published or unpublished sources without proper citation.
  • Paraphrasing another author's work without appropriate attribution.
  • Using figures, tables, images, or data without permission or acknowledgment.
  • Submitting work that substantially overlaps with previously published material.
  • Presenting another person's research findings as original work.
  • Translation plagiarism, where content is translated from another language and presented without proper citation.

The journal considers plagiarism unethical regardless of whether it is intentional or unintentional.

Originality Requirement

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJMSDH must ensure that:

  • The submitted work is original.
  • The manuscript has not been previously published except where clearly disclosed.
  • The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
  • All sources have been properly cited and referenced.
  • Necessary permissions have been obtained for copyrighted materials.

Submission of a manuscript implies that all authors agree to these requirements.

Similarity Screening

All submitted manuscripts may be screened for textual similarity using plagiarism detection software and editorial review procedures.

Similarity reports are used as an assessment tool and are evaluated in context. The journal recognizes that certain levels of similarity may occur legitimately due to references, standard methodological descriptions, technical terminology, or properly quoted material.

Editorial decisions are based on the nature, source, and significance of the detected similarity rather than on a single numerical score alone.

Editorial Evaluation of Suspected Plagiarism

If potential plagiarism is identified before publication, the Editorial Office may:

  • Request clarification from the authors.
  • Require revision and proper citation of affected content.
  • Reject the manuscript if substantial plagiarism is confirmed.
  • Request supporting explanations or documentation where necessary.

Each case is evaluated individually and fairly.

Plagiarism Detected After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal will investigate the matter in accordance with its publication ethics policies.

Depending on the severity of the case, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Publish a correction.
  • Publish an editorial notice.
  • Issue an expression of concern.
  • Retract the article.
  • Notify the authors' institution or relevant authorities when appropriate.

The primary objective is to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

Self-Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

Authors are expected to avoid excessive reuse of their previously published work without proper disclosure and citation.

The journal considers the following practices unacceptable:

  • Republishing substantially identical manuscripts.
  • Fragmenting one study into multiple overlapping publications without justification.
  • Reusing large portions of previously published text without acknowledgment.
  • Submitting previously published work as new research.

Authors must clearly disclose any related manuscripts or previous publications at the time of submission.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring the originality of their work.
  • Properly citing all sources.
  • Obtaining permissions for copyrighted materials where required.
  • Disclosing any related publications.
  • Cooperating with editorial investigations concerning originality concerns.

Ethical Commitment

IJMSDH is dedicated to promoting honesty, transparency, and integrity in scholarly communication. The journal takes allegations of plagiarism seriously and investigates concerns in a fair, objective, and confidential manner.

The journal supports and follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding plagiarism, research integrity, and publication ethics.

Contact

Questions regarding this Plagiarism Policy or concerns related to originality and research integrity may be directed to the Editorial Office through the official contact information provided on the journal website.