Content Update and Versioning Policy
International Medical Journal of Health (IMJH)
ISSN: 2395-6291 | CrossRef Member | CLOCKSS Archived | Version of Record
Important: Post-Publication Correction Fee
Updates after publication are subject to a fee of USD $200. This fee covers the administrative costs of processing, publishing, and cross-referencing the correction notice, as well as updating indexing services and CrossRef CrossMark records.
Free updates are available ONLY before publication during the proofreading stage. Authors are strongly advised to carefully review their proofs before final publication to avoid post-publication correction fees.
CrossRef CrossMark Policy
IMJH participates in the CrossRef CrossMark system, a standard for identifying the authoritative version of a published document. CrossMark provides readers with immediate access to the current status of an article, including any updates, corrections, or retractions.
Last Updated: 15 January 2025 | Effective Date: 1 February 2025
Content Update Policy Navigation
1 Guiding Principles for Content Updates
Core Principles
IMJH's content update policy is built on five foundational principles aligned with COPE and ICMJE guidelines: integrity of the scholarly record, transparency, timeliness, proportionality, and traceability.
Integrity of the Scholarly Record
The published scholarly record must be preserved and maintained. Corrections are published when necessary, but the original content remains accessible to ensure scientific transparency.
- Original version remains publicly accessible
- Changes are clearly documented and dated
- Version history is preserved
Transparency
All changes to published content are clearly identified, dated, and explained. Readers must be able to easily understand what has changed and why.
- Clear rationale for each update
- Date-stamped correction notices
- Bidirectional linking between versions
Timeliness
Corrections and updates are processed promptly to ensure the scholarly record reflects the most accurate information as quickly as possible.
- Initial assessment within 7 days
- Correction published within 30 days of approval
- Urgent corrections expedited
Proportionality
The type and extent of correction is proportionate to the nature and significance of the error or update required.
- Minor errors → Erratum
- Significant errors → Corrigendum
- Fundamental flaws → Retraction
Traceability:
Every change to published content is tracked with persistent identifiers, dates, and documentation. All versions are uniquely identified and linked bidirectionally to ensure readers can navigate the version history.
2 Version of Record (VoR)
What is the Version of Record?
The Version of Record (VoR) is the final, citable, and authoritative version of an article that has undergone peer review, copyediting, typesetting, and approval by all authors. It is published on the IMJH website with a DOI and is permanently archived.
Characteristics of VoR
- Final published version - Complete and approved by authors
- Persistent identifier - Assigned a DOI
- Citable - Primary version for citation
- Archived - Preserved in CLOCKSS/Portico
- Indexed - Submitted to abstracting databases
- Immutable - Content not altered directly
Version Comparison
| Version | Status | DOI | Citable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preprint | Not peer reviewed | Optional | Yes |
| Submitted Manuscript | Under review | No | No |
| Accepted Manuscript | Peer reviewed | No | Yes (with caveats) |
| Version of Record | Published | Yes | Primary |
| Corrected Version | Updated | Same DOI | Yes (with CrossMark) |
Important Note on Versioning:
The Version of Record is the definitive version and should be used for all citations. Preprints and accepted manuscripts are not the final published version and may differ from the VoR. When citing, always use the DOI of the VoR.
3 Types of Corrections and Updates
Erratum
Publisher error
MinorCorrigendum
Author error
Minor-MajorAddendum
Additional information
AdditionExpression of Concern
Pending investigation
TemporaryRetraction
Article invalid
SevereWithdrawal
Pre-publication
RemovalReplacement
New version
RareMetadata Correction
Bibliographic data
Minor4 Erratum and Corrigendum Policy
Post-Publication Correction Fee: $200 USD
All author-initiated corrections after publication are subject to a $200 processing fee. This fee covers the administrative costs of publishing the correction notice, updating CrossRef CrossMark, and notifying indexing services.
Erratum (Publisher Error)
An erratum is issued when an error is introduced by the publisher during the production process, including:
- Typesetting errors
- Incorrect placement of figures/tables
- Formatting errors
- Copyediting mistakes
- DOI registration errors
- Missing content
Erratum Header:
"Erratum: [Original Article Title] [Citation]. IMJH regrets this error."
No fee for publisher errors
Corrigendum (Author Error)
A corrigendum is issued when an error is identified by the authors after publication, including:
- Factual errors in data
- Statistical calculation errors
- Incorrect author affiliations
- Misspelled author names
- Errors in figures or tables
- Missing acknowledgments
Corrigendum Header:
"Corrigendum to '[Article Title]' [Citation]. The authors wish to correct..."
Fee: $200 USD for post-publication corrections
Correction Process
Timeline:
- Acknowledgment: 48 hours
- Assessment: 7 business days
- Correction publication: Within 30 days of approval
Publication Format:
- Published as separate notice
- Linked bidirectionally to original article
- Included in journal Table of Contents
- CrossRef CrossMark updated
5 Addendum Policy
Addendum Fee: $200 USD
Author-initiated addenda after publication are subject to the $200 processing fee. Pre-publication addenda (during proof stage) are free of charge.
When to Issue an Addendum
An addendum is issued when authors wish to add supplementary information that does not correct an error but provides additional context, clarification, or updated information that enhances the original publication without invalidating it.
| Appropriate Uses | Examples |
|---|---|
| Additional data | Supplementary analysis not included originally |
| Extended follow-up | Longer-term outcomes from original study |
| Clarification | Elaboration of methods or interpretation |
| Acknowledgment addition | Adding missed funding sources or contributors |
| Response to commentary | Author response to published letters |
Not Appropriate For:
- Correcting significant errors
- Introducing new findings that contradict original
- Adding new authors without justification
- Changing study conclusions
Addendum Header:
"Addendum to '[Article Title]' [Citation]. The authors wish to add the following information..."
6 Retraction and Withdrawal Policy
COPE Retraction Guidelines
IMJH follows the COPE Retraction Guidelines (Version 3.0, 2025). Retractions are a mechanism for correcting the scholarly record when an article contains fundamental errors or misconduct that invalidates the work.
Grounds for Retraction
- Data fabrication/falsification: Made-up or manipulated data
- Plagiarism: Substantial unattributed copying
- Duplicate publication: Same research published elsewhere
- Ethical violations: Lack of approval, consent issues
- Authorship disputes: Unauthorized authorship changes
- Fundamental errors: Errors that invalidate conclusions
Withdrawal (Pre-Publication)
Withdrawal applies to manuscripts that have not yet been published as Version of Record:
- Accepted manuscripts: Can be withdrawn before publication
- Early Online release: Can be withdrawn if errors identified
- Author request: Valid reasons required
- No indexing: Withdrawn manuscripts are not indexed
- Free of charge: No fee for pre-publication withdrawal
Retraction Notice Requirements
- Clear "RETRACTION" header
- Full citation of retracted article
- Date of retraction
- Reason for retraction
- Retracting editor's name
- Author consent or dissent
- DOI of retraction notice
- Bidirectional linking
Retraction Status:
Retracted articles remain available online with a clear "RETRACTED" watermark on all versions (HTML and PDF). The original content is preserved but clearly marked as invalid. Retraction notices are freely available to all readers.
7 Expression of Concern
When to Issue an Expression of Concern
An Expression of Concern is issued by the Editor-in-Chief when there is credible evidence of potential misconduct or serious error, but an investigation is ongoing or inconclusive. It alerts readers to concerns while ensuring due process.
| Scenario | Action |
|---|---|
| Investigation in progress | Issue Expression of Concern with timeline |
| Inconclusive evidence | Expression of Concern remains in place |
| Misconduct confirmed | Replace with Retraction |
| Author cleared | Retract Expression of Concern |
Duration
Expressions of Concern are temporary measures. IMJH aims to resolve investigations within 60-90 days. If resolution takes longer, an update is published.
Example Header:
"Expression of Concern: [Article Title] [Citation]. Questions have been raised regarding... An investigation is ongoing."
8 CrossMark & Version Identification
CrossRef CrossMark
IMJH is a proud participant in the CrossRef CrossMark system.
What CrossMark Provides:
- Current status: Instantly verify if an article has been updated, corrected, or retracted
- Version identification: Clear indication of the version you are viewing
- Publication record: Complete history of all updates and corrections
- Trust indicator: Confidence that you are viewing the authoritative version
How to Use CrossMark:
Click on the CrossMark logo (✔) on any IMJH article page to view the current status and complete publication history of that article.
CrossMark
Click to verify authenticity and status
Current Status Indicators:
9 Preprint & Post-Publication Updates
Preprint Updates
Authors who have posted preprints are expected to:
- Link the preprint to the published Version of Record via DOI
- Update preprint record with final publication citation
- Note that preprint is not peer-reviewed and may differ from VoR
- Ensure preprint server allows version updates
Recommended Statement:
"This article has been peer-reviewed and published in its final form at [DOI]. The preprint version is not the Version of Record."
Post-Publication Updates
After publication as Version of Record:
- Original article is never altered directly
- All changes documented via correction notices
- Version history preserved and accessible
- CrossRef CrossMark updated
- Indexing databases notified
- $200 fee applies to author-initiated corrections
Version History:
IMJH maintains a complete version history for each article, accessible via the article page and CrossMark.
10 Article Replacement Policy
Article Replacement is Rare
IMJH does not typically replace published articles. Corrections are issued via erratum, corrigendum, or retraction. Replacement is considered only in exceptional circumstances.
Exceptional Circumstances for Replacement
- Critical errors: Errors that fundamentally change interpretation but data is valid
- Early Online release: Articles published in Early Online format before final pagination
- Technical failures: Corrupted files or rendering errors
- Legal requirements: Court orders or defamation findings
Replacement Process
- Approval by Editor-in-Chief
- Replacement notice published with original article
- Original version archived and accessible
- New version clearly dated
- CrossMark updated with version history
11 Supplementary Material Updates
Policy for Supplementary Materials
Supplementary materials (data files, additional figures, appendices, videos) are considered part of the scholarly record and are subject to similar correction policies. The $200 fee applies to post-publication corrections of supplementary materials.
| Type of Update | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Minor correction | File replaced with correction notice; version history maintained; $200 fee |
| Additional data | New supplementary file added; addendum published; $200 fee |
| Invalid data | Retraction of supplementary file; note added to article; no fee |
| Large dataset updates | Link to external repository with version control; DOI for dataset; repository handles versioning |
Data Repository Linking
For large or frequently updated datasets, IMJH encourages authors to:
- Deposit data in recognized repositories (Figshare, Dryad, Zenodo)
- Obtain a separate DOI for the dataset
- Link dataset DOI from the article
- Maintain version control in the repository
Repository versions:
Dataset updates are managed by the repository's versioning system, not IMJH. No IMJH fee applies.
12 Metadata Corrections
Metadata Correction Fee: $200 USD
Post-publication corrections to author names, affiliations, ORCID iDs, and other metadata are subject to the $200 processing fee, as they require updating indexing services and CrossRef records.
Correctable Metadata
- Author names: Spelling corrections, name order changes
- Affiliations: Institutional corrections, additions
- ORCID iDs: Adding or correcting ORCID identifiers
- Title: Minor title corrections
- Keywords: Adding or correcting indexing terms
- Funding information: Adding grant numbers, funding sources
Processing Timeline
- Simple corrections: 3-5 business days
- Complex changes: 7-10 business days
- Author name changes: Expedited, respectful handling
Correction Notice:
Substantive metadata corrections are accompanied by a correction notice. Minor corrections may be made without a formal notice at editorial discretion.
Author Name Change Policy
IMJH respects author privacy and identity. Authors who have changed their name may request metadata updates without requiring legal documentation. The journal will update author names in published articles and notify indexing services. A correction notice may be published at the author's discretion. This policy is applied retroactively to all published articles. The $200 fee applies to name change requests after publication.
14 Contact for Content Updates
Resources
📋 Subject Line Protocol:
Corrections: "CORRECTION REQUEST: [DOI]"
Retractions: "RETRACTION REQUEST: [DOI]"
Metadata: "METADATA UPDATE: [DOI]"
Response Commitment:
All content update requests are acknowledged within 48 hours. Correction decisions are communicated within 7 business days. Published corrections appear within 30 days of approval and payment receipt.
Post-Publication Correction Fee Summary
| Correction Type | Timing | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proofreading changes | Before publication | Free | During author proof stage |
| Erratum (Publisher error) | Anytime | Free | Publisher responsibility |
| Corrigendum (Author error) | After publication | $200 USD | Per correction notice |
| Addendum (Author addition) | After publication | $200 USD | Per addendum |
| Metadata corrections | After publication | $200 USD | Name/affiliation/ORCID changes |
| Supplementary material updates | After publication | $200 USD | Author-initiated changes |
| Retraction (Misconduct) | Anytime | Free | Journal-initiated |
| Withdrawal (Pre-publication) | Before publication | Free | Author request |
* Fees are subject to change without notice. Payment must be received before correction notices are published.
Correction Decision Matrix
| Error Type | Responsible Party | Correction Type | Timeline | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typographical error (no impact on science) | Publisher | Erratum | 7-14 days | Free |
| Author name/affiliation error (post-pub) | Author | Corrigendum | 7-21 days | $200 |
| Figure/table error (post-pub) | Author | Corrigendum | 14-21 days | $200 |
| Data error (does not change conclusions) | Author | Corrigendum | 21-30 days | $200 |
| Data error (changes conclusions) | Author | Retraction consideration | 30-60 days | Free |
| Plagiarism | Author | Retraction | Investigation dependent | Free |
| Additional information (post-pub) | Author | Addendum | 21-30 days | $200 |
| Pending investigation | Journal | Expression of Concern | 60-90 days | Free |
* Timelines are estimates and may vary based on complexity and author responsiveness. Fees apply to author-initiated post-publication corrections only.
Example: Article Version History
Version 1.0 - Original Publication
15 January 2025 | DOI: 10.xxxx/imjh.2025.00123
Initial Version of Record published
Expression of Concern Issued
10 February 2025 | DOI: 10.xxxx/imjh.2025.00123eoc
Questions raised regarding data analysis; investigation initiated
Corrigendum Published
15 March 2025 | DOI: 10.xxxx/imjh.2025.00123cor
Statistical analysis corrected; conclusions unchanged ($200 fee applied)
Expression of Concern Removed
20 March 2025
Investigation complete; article corrected and valid
All versions are permanently archived and linked bidirectionally. The CrossMark logo on the article page displays this complete version history.
Content Update Policy Summary
Minor Errors
Erratum (free) or Corrigendum ($200)
Additions
Addendum ($200 post-publication)
Serious Issues
Retraction (free) for misconduct
All corrections are:
✓ Freely available ✓ Bidirectionally linked ✓ CrossRef CrossMark enabled ✓ Permanently archived
⚠️ Post-publication author-initiated corrections: $200 USD
Request a Correction
Authors may request corrections to published articles. Post-publication requests are subject to a $200 fee.
info@imjhealth.org info.imjh@gmail.com48h acknowledgment | 30-day correction
Post-Publication Fee
USD per correction
Free corrections: Before publication, publisher errors, retractions
Paid corrections: Author-initiated changes after publication
CrossMark Member
Click the CrossMark logo on any article to verify:
- ✓ Current publication status
- ✓ Updates or corrections
- ✓ Retractions
- ✓ Version history
Correction at a Glance
Version of Record
The VoR is the definitive, citable version. Always cite the VoR DOI.
Example Citation:
Sharma P, Gupta R. Article title. Int J Med Health. 2025;15(2):123-35. doi:10.xxxx/imjh.2025.00123
2025 Statistics
Average correction time: 18 days