This policy describes guidelines in the publication process of our journals. Specifically, our Journals adopts and strive to adhere to the following standards and requirements: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
COPE<\/a>\u00a0– Committee on Publication Ethics<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICMJE<\/a>\u00a0– International Committee of Medical Journal Editors<\/p>\n\n\n\n STM<\/a>\u00a0– International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers<\/p>\n\n\n\n WAME<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 World Association of Medical Editors\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n An author is an individual who has significantly contributed to the development of a manuscript.\u00a0ICMJE<\/a>\u00a0recommends that authorship be based on the following four criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; <\/p>\n\n\n\n Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; Final approval of the version to be published; <\/p>\n\n\n\n Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Individuals who participated in the development of a manuscript but do not qualify as an author should be acknowledged. Organizations that provided support in terms of funding and\/or other resources should also be acknowledged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever there is a need to make changes in the authorship of a manuscript or a published article, the changes will be implemented according to\u00a0COPE<\/a>\u00a0specification. Only corresponding authors can make request for a change in authorship. Request should be made to the editor using the Changes in Authorship Form.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICMJE<\/a>\u00a0– Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors<\/p>\n\n\n\n COPE<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 flowcharts on Changes in Authorship\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Authors should read the \u201cInstruction for Authors\u201d on the journal\u2019s page before making a submission. Manuscript should be prepared according to the style and specifications of the journal\u2019s policy. Submission should be made according to the recommendation of each journal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cConflict of interest (COI) exists when there is a divergence between an individual\u2019s private interests (competing interests) and his or her responsibilities to scientific and publishing activities such that a reasonable observer might wonder if the individual\u2019s behavior or judgment was motivated by considerations of his or her competing interests\u201d\u00a0WAME<\/a>. Further reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n COPE<\/a>\u00a0– flowcharts on Conflict of Interest<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICMJE<\/a>\u00a0– Conflicts of Interest<\/p>\n\n\n\n STM<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 International Ethical Principles for Scholarly Publication<\/p>\n\n\n\n WAME<\/a>\u00a0– Conflict of Interest in Peer-Reviewed Medical Journals\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A submitted manuscript is a confidential material. Our Journals will not disclose submitted manuscript to anyone except individuals who partake in the processing and preparation of the manuscript for publication (if accepted). These individuals include editorial staff, corresponding authors, potential reviewers, actual reviewers, and editors. \u00a0However, in suspected cases of misconduct, a manuscript may be revealed to members of our Journals\u2019 ethics committee and institutions\/organizations that may require it for the resolution of the misconduct. Our Journals shall follow the appropriate COPE flowcharts wherever necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICMJE<\/a>\u00a0– Responsibilities in the Submission and Peer-Review Process<\/p>\n\n\n\n STM<\/a>\u00a0– International Ethical Principles for Scholarly Publication\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Misconduct constitutes violation of this editorial policy, journal policies, publication ethics, or any applicable guidelines\/policies specified by COPE, WAME, ICMJE, and STM. Any other activities that threaten\/compromise the integrity of the research\/publication process are potential misconducts. Suspected cases of misconduct will be investigated according to\u00a0COPE guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Corrections may be made to a published article with the authorization of the editor of the journal. Editors will decide the magnitude of the corrections. Minor corrections are made directly to the original article. However, in cases of major corrections, the original article will remain unchanged, while the corrected version will also be published. Both the original and corrected version will be linked to each other. A statement indicating the reason for the major change to the article will also be published. When necessary, retraction of articles will be done according to\u00a0COPE retraction guidelines<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICMJE<\/a>\u00a0– Scientific Misconduct, Expressions of Concern, and Retraction<\/p>\n\n\n\n COPE<\/a>\u00a0Guidelines<\/p>\n\n\n\n COPE<\/a>\u00a0Flowcharts<\/p>\n\n\n\n COPE<\/a>\u00a0retraction guidelines<\/p>\n\n\n\n WAME<\/a>\u00a0– Publication Ethics Policies for Medical Journals<\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthorship<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Acknowledgement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Changes in authorship<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Submission of Manuscript<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Authors listed on the manuscript should have met the requirements for Authorship specified above. Where possible, specify the contribution of each of the authors.
All authors should approve the final version of the manuscript prior to submission. Once a manuscript is submitted, it is therefore assumed that all authors have read and given their approval for the submission of the manuscript.
Contact information of all authors should be stated on the manuscript. Surname\/Other names, affiliation, emails, and phone\/fax numbers.
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest should be stated in the manuscript.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConflict of interest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Authors should disclose all financial\/relevant interest that may have influenced the development of the manuscript.
Reviewers should disclose any conflict of interest and if necessary, decline the review of any manuscript they perceive to have a conflict of interest. Editors should also decline from considering any manuscript that may have conflict of interest. Such manuscripts will be re-assigned to other editors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nConfidentiality<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Misconduct<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Correction and retraction of articles<\/h4>\n\n\n\n