Duplicate Publication Policy

Duplicate Publication Policy

Policy on Prevention, Identification, Investigation, and Management of Duplicate Publication

The Journal of Pharmacovigilance and Drug Research (JPADR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics by preventing duplicate and redundant publication. Duplicate publication undermines the integrity of the scholarly record, distorts scientific evidence, wastes editorial and peer-review resources, and may lead to inappropriate weighting of research findings in systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical guidelines, and policy decisions.

JPADR follows internationally recognized recommendations issued by:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
• Council of Science Editors (CSE)

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Duplicate Publication Policy is to establish clear standards for the prevention, identification, investigation, and management of duplicate publication in manuscripts submitted to or published by the Journal of Pharmacovigilance and Drug Research (JPADR).

Duplicate publication undermines the integrity of the scholarly record, distorts scientific evidence, wastes editorial and peer-review resources, and may influence systematic reviews, clinical guidelines, policy decisions, and evidence synthesis.

JPADR is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and follows internationally recognized guidance for duplicate and redundant publication.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All manuscript submissions to JPADR
• Published articles in JPADR
• Authors and co-authors
• Corresponding authors
• Editors and Editorial Board Members
• Peer reviewers
• Guest Editors
• Special Issue Editors

This policy covers both intentional and unintentional duplicate publication.

3. Policy Statement

JPADR requires that manuscripts submitted for consideration:

• Are original scholarly works.
• Have not been previously published in substantially similar form.
• Are not under consideration by another journal at the time of submission.
• Do not substantially overlap with previously published works without appropriate disclosure and scientific justification.

Duplicate publication is considered a serious breach of publication ethics and may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or notification of relevant institutions or funding bodies where appropriate.

4. Definition of Duplicate Publication

Duplicate publication occurs when substantially similar material is published more than once without appropriate disclosure, permission, justification, or cross-referencing.

Duplicate publication may involve:

• Identical manuscripts.
• Substantially overlapping manuscripts.
• Re-publication of previously published findings.
• Re-submission of already published articles.
• Multiple publications using the same dataset without transparency.
• Publication of the same work in another language without disclosure.

The determination of duplicate publication shall consider both textual similarity and scientific content overlap.

5. Forms of Duplicate Publication

5.1 Direct Duplicate Publication

Publication of a manuscript that is identical or nearly identical to a previously published article.

Examples include:

• Same title and content.
• Same data and conclusions.
• Same tables and figures.
• Minimal or no modification of text.

5.2 Redundant Publication

Publication of substantially overlapping work without adequate disclosure.

Examples include:

• Re-analysis of the same data presented as new research.
• Publication of the same findings in multiple journals.
• Repeated reporting of identical outcomes.

5.3 Partial Duplicate Publication

Publication of portions of previously published work without appropriate citation or disclosure.

Examples include:

• Reuse of tables.
• Reuse of figures.
• Reuse of datasets.
• Reuse of substantial sections of text.

5.4 Salami Publication (Salami Slicing)

Fragmentation of a single study into multiple publications primarily to increase publication count.

Indicators may include:

• Multiple articles from the same dataset.
• Excessive segmentation of results.
• Artificial division of study outcomes.
• Significant overlap among related publications.

Legitimate secondary analyses may be acceptable if fully disclosed and scientifically justified.

5.5 Translation-Based Duplicate Publication

Publication of the same article in another language without:

• Editorial approval.
• Proper disclosure.
• Citation of the original publication.
• Compliance with accepted secondary publication requirements.

6. Acceptable Secondary Publication

JPADR may permit secondary publication under exceptional circumstances when:

• The original publication is fully disclosed.
• Appropriate permissions have been obtained.
• The secondary publication serves a different audience.
• The original source is clearly cited.
• The publication complies with ICMJE recommendations.

Examples may include:

• Clinical guidelines.
• Public health communications.
• Educational translations.
• Government-sponsored dissemination initiatives.

Editorial approval is required before submission.

7. Author Responsibilities

Before Submission

Authors must:

• Ensure originality of submitted work.
• Disclose all related publications.
• Disclose preprints where applicable.
• Identify manuscripts under review elsewhere.
• Provide copies of potentially overlapping publications when requested.

During Submission

Authors shall confirm that:

• The manuscript has not been published previously.
• The manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.
• Any overlap with prior work has been fully disclosed.
• Necessary permissions have been obtained.

After Publication

Authors must promptly inform the journal if duplicate publication concerns are identified after publication.

8. Editorial Screening Procedures

JPADR employs multiple measures to identify duplicate publication.

Initial Editorial Assessment

Editors evaluate:

• Originality.
• Related submissions.
• Author disclosures.

Similarity Detection Tools

The journal may use plagiarism and similarity-detection software to identify:

• Text overlap.
• Previously published content.
• Duplicate submissions.

Reviewer Assessment

Peer reviewers are encouraged to report suspected duplicate publication whenever identified.

9. Indicators of Potential Duplicate Publication

Potential indicators include:

• High similarity scores.
• Identical datasets.
• Repeated participant populations.
• Similar methodology and outcomes.
• Overlapping figures or tables.
• Previously published findings presented as new.
• Undisclosed related publications.

Identification of overlap does not automatically constitute misconduct and shall be evaluated individually on a case-by-case basis.

10. Investigation Procedures

When duplicate publication is suspected, the journal may initiate an investigation.

Preliminary Review

• Assess the extent of overlap.
• Review related publications.
• Examine author disclosures.

Author Communication

Authors may be requested to:

• Provide explanations.
• Submit supporting documentation.
• Clarify publication history.

Editorial Evaluation

Editors shall determine whether:

• The overlap is acceptable.
• Disclosure was adequate.
• Ethical concerns exist.

Investigations shall be conducted fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with COPE guidance.

11. Editorial Actions

Depending on the severity and circumstances, JPADR may take one or more of the following actions.

Before Publication

• Request clarification.
• Request manuscript revision.
• Require additional disclosure.
• Reject the manuscript.

After Publication

• Publish a correction.
• Publish a notice of redundant publication.
• Issue an Expression of Concern.
• Retract the article.

Serious cases may be referred to the authors' institutions, employers, or funding agencies when appropriate.

12. Retraction for Duplicate Publication

Retraction may be considered when:

• Significant duplication exists.
• Duplicate publication was not disclosed.
• The scholarly record has been materially affected.
• Publication ethics misconduct has been established.

Retraction notices shall:

• Remain permanently accessible.
• Clearly explain the reason for retraction.
• Be electronically linked to the original article.
• Follow the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

13. Relationship with Preprints

JPADR recognizes that posting manuscripts on recognized preprint servers generally does not constitute duplicate publication.

Authors must:

• Disclose preprint posting during manuscript submission.
• Provide relevant preprint identifiers or links where applicable.
• Ensure compliance with the journal's Preprint Policy.

The Editorial Office will evaluate submissions previously posted as preprints according to the journal's editorial policies and international recommendations.

14. Conference Presentations and Abstracts

Presentation of research as:

• Conference abstracts
• Scientific posters
• Oral presentations
• Proceedings abstracts

does not normally constitute duplicate publication provided that:

• Full disclosure is made during submission.
• The submitted manuscript substantially expands upon the previously presented work.
• Prior presentation is appropriately acknowledged.

Authors are expected to disclose all prior conference dissemination during manuscript submission.

15. Data Reuse and Secondary Analyses

Reuse of previously collected data may be acceptable when:

• Scientifically justified.
• Clearly disclosed.
• Properly referenced.
• Methodologically distinct from previous publications.

Authors must clearly explain how the submitted manuscript differs from previous publications derived from the same dataset.

16. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

• Alert editors to suspected duplicate publication.
• Identify overlapping publications when known.
• Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.
• Avoid direct communication with authors regarding duplicate publication concerns.

Reviewer reports shall be considered during editorial investigations and decision-making.

17. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors shall:

• Evaluate allegations impartially.
• Follow established editorial procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Seek additional expertise when necessary.
• Apply corrective actions consistently and fairly.

Editorial decisions shall be based on available evidence, publication ethics principles, and internationally accepted standards.

18. Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions related to duplicate publication.

Appeals must:

• Be submitted in writing.
• Provide supporting evidence.
• Address the specific concerns identified by the Editorial Office.

Appeals shall be reviewed independently in accordance with the journal's Appeals and Complaints Policy.

19. Compliance with International Standards

This policy is based upon recommendations and guidance issued by:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
• Council of Science Editors (CSE)
• Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

The policy reflects internationally recognized good publication practices expected by major indexing services, including Scopus, Web of Science, and other scholarly databases.

20. Policy Review and Amendment

This policy shall normally be reviewed every three years or earlier if required due to:

• Updates in publication ethics guidance.
• Revisions to COPE recommendations.
• Regulatory developments.
• Editorial process improvements.
• Advances in scholarly publishing standards.

Any amendments shall require approval by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board before implementation.

21. Declaration

The Journal of Pharmacovigilance and Drug Research (JPADR) is committed to preserving the integrity, reliability, transparency, and originality of the scholarly record.

The journal prohibits duplicate and redundant publication and expects authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff to uphold the highest standards of publication ethics through responsible reporting, transparent disclosure, ethical editorial practices, and adherence to internationally accepted best practices.

References

1. Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). COPE Guidelines on Redundant (Duplicate) Publication.
2. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.
3. World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Publication Ethics Policies for Medical Journals.
4. Council of Science Editors (CSE). White Paper on Publication Ethics.
5. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.