The Healthcare Quality Professionals Journal (HQPJ) recognizes that generative artificial intelligence and AI-assisted technologies may be used in certain stages of research communication and manuscript preparation. Such tools must, however, be used responsibly, transparently, ethically, and with appropriate human oversight.
Authors, reviewers, and editors remain fully accountable for the accuracy, originality, confidentiality, integrity, interpretation, and scholarly quality of all work submitted to or processed by the journal. Generative AI tools cannot replace human academic responsibility and must not be used in ways that fabricate evidence, compromise patient privacy, misrepresent authorship, or undermine the reliability of healthcare research.
Scope of This Policy
This policy applies to the use of generative AI, large language models, AI-assisted writing tools, automated image-generation systems, AI-based coding tools, conversational AI systems, and similar technologies when used in connection with manuscript preparation, data interpretation, peer review, editorial assessment, or scholarly communication.
Responsible Uses of Generative AI
Generative AI or AI-assisted tools may be used in limited and responsible ways provided that authors maintain full control over the scholarly content and verify all output before submission:
Assisting with grammar, spelling, readability, sentence structure, language refinement, and document formatting/organization, provided the author verifies the final text.
Assisting with research code, analytical scripts, notes organization, or workflow efficiency, provided authors validate logic, outputs, calculations, and reproducibility.
Disclosure of Use & AI Authorship Prohibition
Disclosure Requirements
Where generative AI or AI-assisted technologies materially contribute to manuscript preparation, analysis, interpretation, coding, or content development, authors should disclose such use clearly to allow transparent editorial assessment.
AI Tools Cannot Be Authors
Generative AI tools, chatbots, or language models must NOT be listed as authors or co-authors. AI tools cannot accept scholarly responsibility, approve manuscripts, manage conflicts of interest, or assume legal/ethical liability.
Author Verification & Inaccurate AI Output
Generative AI systems may produce inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, or entirely fabricated information ("hallucinations"). Authors must independently verify all AI-assisted output before including it in a scholarly manuscript:
- Verify factual, statistical, and numerical accuracy.
- Verify all citations, literature, and references independently.
- Confirm methodological descriptions and research logic.
- Ensure the originality of the final manuscript text.
- Prohibit fabricated references and invented citations.
- Prohibit fictitious participant data or invented evidence.
- Prohibit false quotations or unsupported factual claims.
- Protect confidential and sensitive healthcare information.
Patient Privacy, Confidentiality & Visual Data
Patient Privacy & Sensitive Data
Identifiable patient records, clinical histories, photographs, reports, or confidential health information must NEVER be entered into external AI tools. Unpublished or confidential datasets must not be disclosed to public AI systems.
AI-Generated Images & Figures
AI-generated or AI-modified visual material must NOT be presented as genuine clinical, experimental, patient-derived, or observational evidence. Illustrative uses must be transparently declared and non-misleading.
Verification of References & Citations
Authors must verify every reference included in a manuscript. AI tools frequently output fictitious citations:
- Confirm that every cited source exists and verify author names, titles, and journal details.
- Confirm that citations accurately support the stated claims in the manuscript.
- Do not cite invented sources or rely solely on unverified AI-generated bibliographies.
AI Restrictions for Reviewers & Editors
Reviewers
Submitted manuscripts are confidential documents. Reviewers must NOT upload confidential manuscripts, unpublished data, or figures into external AI tools where confidentiality and IP safeguards cannot be assured.
Editors
Editorial decisions must NOT be delegated to generative AI. AI tools must not replace human editorial judgment regarding scientific quality, peer-review assessment, acceptance, or rejection.
The following practices are inconsistent with responsible scholarly publishing and are strictly prohibited:
- Fabricating research data or creating fictitious patient records
- Generating false references, citations, or fictitious literature
- Presenting AI-generated findings or images as genuine evidence
- Listing an AI system as an author or co-author
- Uploading confidential manuscripts or patient info to external AI tools
- Concealing material AI use when disclosure is required
- Manipulating scientific images deceptively using AI tools
- Using AI to misrepresent research conclusions or data logic
Assessment & Policy Violations
Concerns about inappropriate AI use are evaluated based on factual evidence and research integrity rather than automated detection scores alone. Where violations occur, the journal may take appropriate action:
| Action Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Clarification | Authors may be asked to explain how AI tools were used and provide relevant supporting source material. |
| Revision | Authors may be required to correct unsupported, inaccurate, or improperly generated material/citations. |
| Rejection | A manuscript may be rejected where inappropriate AI use substantially compromises originality, reliability, confidentiality, or integrity. |
| Post-Publication Action | Corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions may be issued if problematic AI use is identified after publication. |
Responsible AI Checklist for Authors
Authors using generative AI or AI-assisted technologies remain fully responsible for all submitted material. AI systems must not be credited as authors, must not be used to fabricate scholarly evidence, and must not be used in a manner that compromises patient confidentiality, research integrity, copyright, editorial confidentiality, or the reliability of the scholarly record.