Plagiarism Policy

PLAGIARISM & ORIGINALITY POLICY
Plagiarism and Originality Policy
 
1. General Principles

The Da Nang Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy (DJMP) is committed to maintaining the originality, scientific integrity, and reliability of published content.

DJMP does not accept plagiarism in any form. Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts are original and that ideas, data, text, images, or other materials originating from others are appropriately cited, acknowledged, and used with permission where required.

The identification and handling of plagiarism are based on the nature, extent, and context of the overlapping material, rather than solely on an overall similarity percentage.

2. Forms of Plagiarism and Related Practices
Direct plagiarism: Verbatim copying of another person’s work without appropriate citation or attribution.
Plagiarism of ideas: Use of another person’s original ideas, hypotheses, methods, or interpretations without appropriate acknowledgement.
Inappropriate paraphrasing: Changing words or sentence structures while substantially reproducing source content without proper citation.
Plagiarism of images or data: Using tables, figures, charts, data, or other materials created by others without appropriate attribution or permission where required.
Text recycling/self-plagiarism: Substantial reuse of an author’s previously published content without appropriate citation or transparent disclosure.
Duplicate publication: Publication or submission of work that substantially overlaps with previously published work without appropriate disclosure.
3. Similarity Checking

DJMP may use similarity-checking software and other assessment methods to assist in identifying potentially overlapping content.

• During submission and initial screening;
• During editorial assessment or peer review;
• Before acceptance or publication;
• After publication when concerns or allegations arise.

A similarity score does not by itself constitute a finding of plagiarism.

Similarity reports must be interpreted in context, including the source of overlap, location and length of the overlapping material, citation practices, type of content, and the extent to which the overlap affects the originality of the work.

4. Similarity Thresholds

DJMP does not use a single similarity percentage as automatic evidence for determining whether plagiarism is present or absent.

A manuscript with a low similarity score may still raise serious concerns if it reproduces an important idea, result, or substantial passage. Conversely, a higher similarity score may result from references, technical terminology, standardized methodological descriptions, or properly cited material.

Editorial decisions therefore rely on professional assessment of the similarity report and manuscript content, not solely on a percentage score.

5. Responsibilities of Authors
• Ensure the originality of the manuscript;
• Cite all sources accurately and completely;
• Present direct quotations using appropriate quotation and citation practices;
• Avoid copying or paraphrasing another person’s work in a manner that misrepresents intellectual ownership;
• Transparently disclose relevant previously published material;
• Provide supporting documents or explanations when DJMP requests clarification regarding similarity concerns.

Citing a source does not automatically permit extensive copying from that source. Authors remain responsible for complying with copyright requirements and appropriate use of published material.

6. Reuse of an Author’s Own Published Content

Authors should not substantially reuse material from their previously published work without appropriate citation and disclosure.

Some overlap in methodological descriptions may be difficult to avoid, particularly where the same research procedures are used. However, authors must ensure that such reuse does not mislead readers into believing that previously published content, data, or results are new.

Reuse of previously published data or research results is subject to stricter consideration than overlap in wording alone.

7. Handling Before Publication

If potentially plagiarized or duplicated content is identified in an unpublished manuscript, DJMP may:

• Request an explanation from the authors;
• Request additional or corrected citations;
• Require problematic sections to be rewritten;
• Request source materials;
• Suspend peer review or editorial processing;
• Reject the manuscript where serious misconduct is identified.

The action taken depends on the nature, scope, severity, and impact of the concern on the originality and integrity of the manuscript.

8. Handling After Publication

If concerns regarding plagiarism arise after publication, DJMP will review the matter through an appropriate process. Depending on the circumstances, the Journal may:

• Request an explanation from the authors;
• Issue a correction;
• Publish an Expression of Concern where appropriate;
• Retract the article where serious concerns compromise its integrity or reliability;
• Contact the author’s institution or another relevant authority when necessary.

Post-publication actions are handled in accordance with DJMP’s Correction, Retraction, and Expression of Concern Policy.

9. Appeals and Explanations

Authors have the right to provide an explanation regarding similarity-checking results or decisions related to suspected plagiarism.

Authors may provide source materials, evidence, explanations of overlapping passages, or other relevant information for consideration by the Journal.

Providing an explanation does not automatically result in a change to the editorial decision.

10. Responsibility and Decision-Making by DJMP

Similarity-checking software is a supporting tool only.

DJMP is responsible for evaluating similarity results within the relevant scientific and publishing context before reaching a decision.

Serious or complex cases may be handled under DJMP’s Publication Ethics Policy, Research and Publication Misconduct Policy, and other applicable Journal policies.