Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The Rehabilitation Journal (TRJ) upholds the highest academic integrity and ethical publishing standards. Authors are required to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools transparently and responsibly throughout the research and publication process.

Authorship and AI Tools

AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT by OpenAI, Google Bard, Microsoft Copilot) cannot be listed as authors under any circumstances. Authorship requires intellectual contribution, accountability, and the ability to respond to peer review criteria that AI tools cannot fulfill.

Acceptable Use and Disclosure

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation, including but not limited to language editing, literature summarization, coding assistance, or formatting. Disclosure must be made either in a dedicated AI Use Statement or in the Acknowledgments section. Authors are responsible for all AI-assisted content, ensuring its originality, factual accuracy, and appropriate citation.

AI-Generated Content

Any figure, table, image, or dataset generated with AI must be clearly labeled as such, with sufficient detail to ensure transparency and reproducibility. Misrepresenting AI-generated content as original work or failing to disclose its use constitutes a breach of ethical standards and may result in rejection or retraction of the manuscript.

Peer Review Restrictions

AI tools must not be used during the peer review process to protect confidentiality and intellectual property rights.

Required Information for Disclosure

When disclosing AI use, authors must specify:

  • The name of the AI tool
  • Its version (if applicable)
  • The provider (e.g., OpenAI, Google)

Examples of Acceptable AI Use Statements

  • Writing support only: “The authors used OpenAI’s ChatGPT to improve language clarity during manuscript preparation. The tool was not used for content generation, data analysis, or interpretation. All final content was reviewed and approved by the authors.”
  • Writing and idea generation: “Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT were used to assist with literature summarization and refinement of the research rationale. All interpretations, conclusions, and original ideas remain solely those of the authors.”
  • Editorial assistance only: “In line with TRJ’s AI policy, AI tools were used solely for formatting and language editing. No AI was used for content generation, data analysis, or interpretation.”
  • No AI was used: “No AI tools were used in this manuscript's writing, analysis, or preparation.”

Policy Updates and Compliance

This policy is reviewed annually to align with advancements in AI technology and ethical standards established by COPE, ICMJE, and other relevant bodies. Misuse of AI tools or failure to disclose their use may lead to editorial actions, including rejection or retraction, by TRJ’s ethical guidelines.