How to Retract and Correct Articles Published in Health Science Journals
Authors can retract or correct articles published in health science journals by issuing a formal notice after spotting errors in research. The public notice will trigger a set of steps where researchers can recall published articles permanently. This notice also allows authors recall, correct, and republish articles in health science journals.
Article retractions are rare and may not occur in some health science journals at all. However, some issues may arise in some research articles and make corrections and retractions necessary.
Retractions are important as they help maintain the accuracy and integrity of research. Corrections to published research also ensures the accurate distribution of valid information to readers. In this guide, we will get vital information about the steps to retract and correct articles already published in health science journals.
Readers will get details about steps, author best practices, and other essential information to improve the accuracy of existing research.
How to Retract and Correct Articles Published in Health Science Journals
Step 1: Publish a formal notice
Authors planning to retract or correct a published article usually start with writing a formal, public notice. In other cases, a journal may issue the public notice to alert their readers to a potential retraction or correction.
The notice contains information about why an article retraction or correction becomes necessary. Rationale for a correction or retraction included in a formal notice usually include information about:
- Ethical violations,
- Misleading or fraudulent information,
- Major errors, etc.
The notice also spells out specific reasons for article retractions or corrections such as:
- Plagiarism,
- Fabrication of data,
- Misconduct during research, and
- Previously-undisclosed conflicts of interest
The formal notice usually ends by emphasizing how important such retractions or corrections are to maintain trust in public research. The formal notice is usually available to journals and members of the scientific community after it is issued.
Step 2: Contact journal’s editor
The next step will be to contact a journal editor if an author initiates the retraction or correction process. An author is expected to write another detailed report about all issues identified with the current research.
Such a report should be submitted shortly after issuing the public notice to journal editors.
However, an author is mandated to provide such a report if the journal editor issued the public notice. The journal will request a detailed explanation of all issues they identified and provide information to support their claims. A timeline to respond to such notice usually follows the request from a journal.
Step 3: Submit evidence to support retraction/correction
An author or editor will also need to submit evidence to support a necessary retraction or correction in a health science journal. Authors declaring a retraction or correction will submit details about incomplete or incorrect data, citations, findings, etc.
Step 4: Issuance of errata
Errata are only required for an article correction and do not apply to retractions from health science journals.
An erratum is a document outlining all corrections made to a published article. It comes immediately after submitting evidence that makes a correction to an article necessary. The errata may also aid researchers complete their article by including an addenda (text added to the end of an article) or corrigenda (list of printing errors for correction).
An erratum is essential to highlight mistakes and corrections made. It also provides a list showing reasons why such corrections became necessary. An erratum also advises the publication of corrections made to reach readers.
Step 5: Disclosure of conflicting interests (if any)
At this stage of the retraction/correction process, the journal will require authors to confirm any conflicts of interest. This confirmation is essential as potential corrections may include new information that might conflict with researchers’ interests.
After this stage, the journal will complete all other aspects of retracting or correcting the published article.
What Makes a Retraction or Correction Important for Published Health Science Journals?
A retraction or correction of published health science journals is essential to promote:
Accuracy
Retractions and corrections helps to increase the accuracy of existing literature about health sciences. Rectifying incorrect information helps researchers and publishers uphold their commitment to providing correct details about health science topics.
Protecting public trust
Readers place their trust in health science journals and usually rely on information published in their articles. Quick corrections and retractions help build public trust and shows the journal’s commitment to providing accurate information to readers.
The maintenance of a journal’s reputation
The prestige of a journal could be at stake if retractions and corrections do not receive urgent attention. Journals can demonstrate full commitment to high-quality standards by initiating and completing corrections and retractions in a health science article.
Promoting improvement
Retractions or corrections help improve learning for researchers, authors, healthcare practitioners, and members of the academic community. Identifying and effecting corrections and retractions help researchers see major areas for improvement and implement better measures to develop health sciences.
Retractions and corrections promote accountability and transparency, helping researchers build to advance existing scientific knowledge with high standards.
Preventing flaws or harm
Retractions or corrections help to prevent flawed research reliant on incorrect or incomplete data or findings in published articles. Incorrect information could have severe consequences in the health sciences and could prove fatal for patients.
Retracting flawed research and correcting errors in published articles help prevent against harm and mitigate risks linked to incorrect conclusions.
Final Word
The accuracy of health science literature receives a huge boost with the successful retraction and correction of information in published articles. Retractions or corrections might become necessary due to human error or negligence on the part of authors and editors.
Successful retractions helps authors improve existing best practices while adhering to publishing ethics. Retractions and corrections also help researchers promote transparency in studies. It also helps editors increase their effort in assessing articles during pre-publishing reviews.
Authors can take advantage of all the information in this article to correct and retract articles without stress. Building on existing knowledge in the health sciences while improving accuracy is easier with successful, straightforward article corrections and retractions.