1. Introduction

The International Journal of Public Health Excellence (IJPHE) recognizes the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in academic research and manuscript preparation. While these tools can offer significant benefits in enhancing clarity, efficiency, and analytical capability, their use must be governed by principles of academic integrity, transparency, and accountability .

This policy outlines the ethical and responsible use of AI tools for all submissions to IJPHE. It is designed to uphold the journal's commitment to publishing innovative and trustworthy contributions to the field of public health . All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to these guidelines.

2. Scope and Definition of AI Tools

This policy applies to all AI-based digital systems, platforms, or software that can generate, analyze, translate, summarize, or modify textual, numerical, or visual data. Examples include but are not limited to generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude), AI writing and grammar assistants (e.g., Grammarly, DeepL), AI-based data analysis and visualization software, and AI-powered literature review or citation generators .

3. Author Responsibilities and Acceptable Use

Authors are permitted to use AI tools for specific tasks that support manuscript preparation, provided they adhere to the following guidelines:

a) Permissible Uses
Authors may use AI tools to:

• Improve grammar, spelling, and punctuation .

• Enhance linguistic clarity, style, and tone (language editing).

• Assist with formatting references and citations.

• Conduct preliminary literature searches.

• Support data analysis and statistical modeling, but not replace the author's critical interpretation .

• Generate basic visual aids or illustrations, provided the content is ethically sourced and reviewed by the authors.

b) Prohibited Uses
AI tools must not be used to:

• Generate entire manuscripts or substantial portions of original content without significant human input and critical review .

• Fabricate or falsify data, research findings, or images .

• Create content that constitutes plagiarism, including paraphrasing published works without proper attribution .

• Translate texts without subsequent human verification to ensure accuracy and contextual understanding .

• Compromise the integrity of the peer-review process (e.g., by generating reviewer reports).

c) Authorship and Accountability
AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors on any submission to IJPHE. Authorship is a human responsibility that requires significant intellectual contribution, accountability for the work, and the ability to approve the final version .
Authors are solely and fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, validity, and ethical compliance of all content submitted, including any content generated or modified with the assistance of AI tools . This includes ensuring all data, citations, and factual claims are correct.

4. Disclosure Requirements

Transparency is paramount. Authors must disclose any use of AI tools beyond basic grammar and spelling checking at the time of submission.

a) What to Disclose
The disclosure must include:

1. The name, version, and developer/provider of the AI tool(s) used.

2. A clear description of the purpose(s) and the extent of its use (e.g., "used for language editing," "assisted with coding," "generated initial literature map").

b) Where to Disclose
Depending on how the AI tool was used, the disclosure should be placed in one of the following sections:

• Methods Section: If the AI tool contributed to data analysis, figure generation, coding, or other methodological components .

• Acknowledgments Section: If the tool was used primarily for language editing, proofreading, or formatting .

• Dedicated Statement: Authors are strongly encouraged to include a separate section titled "Declaration of AI Tool Usage" before the References. A suggested template for this statement is:

"During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [Insert AI Tool Name, Version, and Developer] for [Provide a clear description of the purpose and extent of use]. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed, revised, and verified by the author(s), who take full responsibility for the integrity and content of this manuscript." .

For submissions where no AI tools were used, a statement such as "The author(s) declare that no Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript" is recommended .

5. Editorial and Peer Review Oversight

The IJPHE editorial office reserves the right to screen all manuscripts for potential AI-generated content using specialized software. If undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI is suspected, the editorial team will follow the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) . Depending on the severity of the breach, actions may include:

• Requesting clarification or revision from the authors.

• Rejecting the manuscript.

• Retracting a published article.

6. Conclusion

IJPHE supports the responsible use of AI as a tool to enhance scholarly work. By adhering to this policy, authors uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and academic integrity that are fundamental to the scientific endeavor. This policy is dynamic and will be reviewed periodically to reflect the evolving landscape of AI technologies and best practices in scholarly publishing.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the writing of this manuscript is limited to a maximum of 20% of the total content, strictly for grammar checking, limited paraphrasing, or preliminary reference searching, and all final outputs must be fully verified and solely responsible for by the author(s).