The Journal of Family Medicine, Primary Care and Community Health Indonesia (FPCHI) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and completeness of the scientific record. When errors, misconduct, or other issues are identified in published articles, FPCHI will take prompt and transparent corrective action in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
This policy applies to all article types published in FPCHI and governs how the journal handles post-publication corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and removals.
Types of Post-Publication Actions
Correction (Erratum)
Minor errors that do not affect conclusions
Expression of Concern
Integrity concerns under active investigation
Retraction
Unreliable findings or serious misconduct
Removal
Legal necessity or serious safety risk only
1. Corrections (Errata)
When a Correction is Issued
A correction notice (erratum) is published when a published article contains errors — such as incorrect data, typographical errors, mislabelled figures, or minor methodological inaccuracies — that do not undermine the overall reliability of the findings or the validity of the conclusions.
How Corrections Are Handled
A correction notice is published as a separate, citable article linked bidirectionally to the original article. The original article is updated online with a prominent notice indicating that a correction has been issued, and a link to the correction notice is added.
Who Can Request a Correction
Corrections may be requested by authors, editors, readers, or identified proactively by the editorial team. Authors are strongly encouraged to notify the editorial office promptly upon discovering any errors in their published work, regardless of the cause.
2. Expression of Concern
When It Is Issued
An Expression of Concern (EoC) is issued when the editorial office has received credible evidence of potential problems with a published article — such as concerns about data integrity, authorship disputes, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or ethical violations — but an investigation is still ongoing and a definitive conclusion has not yet been reached.
Duration and Resolution
The EoC will remain linked to the article during the investigation period. Once the investigation concludes, the EoC will be replaced by either a correction notice, a retraction, or a notice confirming that no action is required. Authors and relevant institutions will be informed throughout the process.
3. Retractions
Grounds for Retraction
A retraction is issued when a published article contains findings that are unreliable due to honest error or misconduct, or when the publication itself violates publication ethics. Grounds include:
Retraction Process
Before issuing a retraction, the Editor-in-Chief will notify the corresponding author and allow a reasonable opportunity to respond. Where an institutional investigation is involved, FPCHI will collaborate with the relevant institution. The decision to retract is made by the Editor-in-Chief in accordance with COPE guidelines.
Handling of Retracted Articles
Retracted articles are not removed from the journal archive. The original article remains online but is clearly and permanently watermarked as "RETRACTED" on every page. A separate retraction notice — stating the reason and date of retraction — is published as a citable record and linked bidirectionally to the original article.
Important: Retraction Does Not Erase the Record
In accordance with COPE guidelines, retracted articles are retained in the scholarly record with clear retraction markings. Permanent deletion of a published article is not carried out except in exceptional legal circumstances (see Removal policy below). The retraction notice itself becomes part of the citable record.
4. Article Removal
Complete removal of an article from the online archive is an extremely rare measure, reserved only for cases where publication poses a serious legal risk (e.g., defamation, infringement of legal rights) or where content poses a clear and immediate public safety risk. In such cases, the article text will be replaced by a notice stating that the article has been removed and the reason for removal. The article's metadata (title, authors, abstract) will be retained as part of the permanent scholarly record. Removal decisions require approval from the Editor-in-Chief and legal counsel.
5. How to Report a Concern
Submit Your Concern
Contact the editorial office at editor@fpchi.org with a detailed description of the concern, the article title and DOI, and any supporting evidence.
Initial Assessment
The editorial office will acknowledge receipt within 5 business days and conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the concern warrants a formal investigation.
Investigation
If warranted, a formal investigation is conducted in accordance with COPE flowcharts. Authors, reviewers, or institutions may be contacted. All parties are treated fairly and confidentially throughout.
Decision and Action
The Editor-in-Chief issues a decision: no action required, correction, expression of concern, or retraction. All parties are notified of the outcome. Where applicable, the authors' institution is also informed.
6. Compliance and Standards
This policy follows the standards and guidelines of:
Report a Concern or Request a Correction
To report a concern about a published article or to request a correction, please contact the editorial office at editor@fpchi.org. Include the article title, DOI, and a clear description of the issue. All reports are treated with confidentiality and will be acknowledged within 5 business days.
Last updated: June 2026
