Appropriate Use of AI Tools

AI-Based Writing Tools

Artificial intelligence tools, including Large Language Models, are increasingly used in academic writing. IJMPH permits the limited use of AI-based tools for language refinement, grammar correction, or minor stylistic editing.

AI systems must not be listed as authors. Authorship requires accountability and responsibility, which AI tools cannot assume. Authors and reviewers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted content.

The following uses are not permitted:

• Submission of fully AI-generated manuscripts;
• Use of AI-generated text to replace original scholarly writing;
• Attempts to disguise plagiarism, conceal prior publication, or manipulate similarity detection;
• Undisclosed reuse of existing material through AI-assisted rewriting.

Any manuscript found to contain generated content intended to misrepresent originality or obscure prior sources will be rejected and may be treated as a breach of publication ethics.

Authors should disclose any substantive use of AI tools in the Cover Letter and, where appropriate, within the manuscript. Reviewers should inform the editors if AI tools were used in preparing their reports.

To protect confidentiality, reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts, data, or peer-review materials into external AI platforms.

AI-Generated Images and Visual Content

IJMPH does not permit the submission of images that have been generated or materially altered using generative AI tools for the purpose of modifying scientific content.

Prohibited modifications include:

• Adding, removing, relocating, or obscuring specific elements;
• Enhancing or suppressing features that alter the scientific meaning of the image.

Standard adjustments of brightness, contrast, or color balance are acceptable provided that they do not distort or conceal information. Authors may be asked to provide original, unprocessed image files during editorial review.

The above restrictions do not apply when generative AI or AI-assisted tools are used as part of the research methodology itself, such as in studies focused on image generation, image analysis, or image modification.

In such cases, the use of AI must be clearly and transparently described in the Methods section in a manner that allows reproducibility. Authors must provide:

• A detailed explanation of how the AI or AI-assisted tools were applied in the image generation or modification process;
• The name of the model or software, including version information and relevant technical specifications.

Authors are responsible for complying with the licensing terms and usage policies of the AI tools employed and for ensuring proper attribution where required.

Upon editorial request, authors may be required to provide original, unmodified image files and/or underlying raw image data used to produce the submitted figures for verification purposes.