Editorial Policies

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Editorial Policies

Annals of Medical and Health Research is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, ethical publishing, and transparent scholarly communication. The journal strictly adheres to the guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as well as other internationally recognized frameworks in medical and healthcare publishing.

Our editorial policies ensure that every manuscript undergoes a rigorous, unbiased, and ethically sound evaluation process. These policies safeguard the quality, reliability, and credibility of all published articles across the fields of medicine, clinical sciences, public health, nursing, pharmacy, and biomedical research.

We regularly review and update our editorial standards to align with:

Global norms in medical and health research publishing

Evolving ethical guidelines for human and clinical studies

International standards for peer review, authorship, data sharing, and research transparency

By upholding these principles, the journal aims to ensure that all published work contributes meaningfully to advancing healthcare knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and promoting ethical medical research practices worldwide.

Open Access Policy

Annals of Medical and Health Research follows a full open access model, making all published articles freely available online without any subscription or access charges. Readers can read, download, share, and use the content for any lawful purpose with proper attribution.

The journal supports open knowledge sharing to promote wider visibility, faster scientific communication, and improved access to medical and health research globally.

Copyright Policy

Annals of Medical and Health Research: An International Journal**

Authors retain full copyright to their work and grant the journal the right of first publication through a License to Publish agreement. All published articles may be used, shared, and reproduced in any medium with proper credit to the authors and the journal.

Authors must ensure that their submission is original, not previously published, and not under review elsewhere. If any copyrighted figures, tables, or images are used, authors are responsible for obtaining the required permissions and providing acknowledgments.

CC BY License Policy

All articles in Annals of Medical and Health Research: An International Journal are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License.

This license allows anyone to share and adapt the content, even for commercial use, as long as proper credit is given to the authors and the journal. Users must also provide a link to the license and indicate if any changes were made. No additional restrictions may be applied that limit others from using the content under the same terms.

Editorial Freedom

Annals of Medical and Health Research: An International Journal follows a strict policy of editorial independence. The Editor-in-Chief and the editorial board have complete authority over editorial decisions, including manuscript evaluation, peer review, revisions, and acceptance.

All decisions are based solely on the quality, originality, scientific validity, and relevance of the manuscript to medical and health sciences. The publisher does not influence or interfere with the editorial process in any form. No commercial or external factors affect the peer review or publication outcome.

This policy ensures fairness, transparency, and integrity throughout the publication process.

Key Editorial Policies & Reference Links

Publication Ethics (COPE)
https://publicationethics.org/

Plagiarism Policy (Strict Zero Tolerance)
https://www.ieee.org/publications/rights/plagiarism/id-plagiarism.html

Authorship & Contributions Guidelines (COPE)
https://publicationethics.org/authorship

Conflict of Interest Policy (COPE)
https://publicationethics.org/conflicts-of-interest

Peer Review Ethics (COPE)
https://publicationethics.org/peerreview

Copyright & Licensing (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Open Access Principles (DOAJ)
https://doaj.org/apply/guide/

Archiving & Preservation
Portico – https://www.portico.org/
CLOCKSS – https://wame.org/editorial-independence

Retraction Guidelines (COPE)
https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines

Peer Review Policy

Peer Review Model

The journal uses a single-blind review system where reviewers remain anonymous. All manuscripts (except invited editorials) undergo strict quality and ethical checks.

Review Process

1. Initial Screening
The Managing Editor checks plagiarism, scope, and formatting.

2. Editorial Assessment
The Editor-in-Chief or an Editorial Board Member decides whether the manuscript proceeds to external review.

3. Peer Review
At least two experts review the manuscript for:

Originality and significance

Scientific and methodological quality

Ethical compliance

Clarity of presentation

Reviewers submit comments and recommendations (Accept, Minor/Major Revision, Reject).

4. Final Decision
The Academic Editor makes the final decision after considering reviewer reports.

Special Cases

Submissions from Editorial Board or Guest Editors are handled independently to avoid bias.

Special issue articles follow the same review standards.

Peer Reviewers

Selection of Reviewers
Reviewers are chosen based on:

  • Independence from the authors and their institutions.
  • Relevant expertise and recent publications in the field.
  • Ability to provide a timely and informed evaluation.

Author-Suggested Reviewers Authors may suggest reviewers, but the journal makes the final decision. Suggested reviewers must:

  • Have recent publications in the relevant field.
  • Not have co-authored, collaborated, or shared institutional affiliation with any author recently.
  • Have no personal or financial conflicts of interest.
  • Authors should provide the reviewer’s name, email, institution, research area, and ORCID (if available).

Notes for Reviewers Reviewers are expected to:

  • Declare conflicts of interest.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Provide objective, constructive, and unbiased feedback.
  • Report suspected misconduct.
  • Avoid unnecessary self-citations.
  • Submit reviews on time or request an extension when needed.

Roles in Peer Review

  • Managing Editor: Screens submissions, checks plagiarism, and coordinates communication.
  • Academic Editor: Evaluates reviewer reports and makes the final decision (accept, revise, reject). Their name will be published with the accepted article.

Authorship

Authorship Criteria
Authors must:

  • Contribute substantially to the research design, analysis, or development.
  • Draft or critically revise the manuscript.
  • Approve the final version.
  • Take responsibility for the integrity of the work.

Corresponding Author Responsible for managing communication with the journal, ensuring all authors meet criteria, handling declarations (conflicts, ethics, acknowledgments), and responding to queries after publication.

Equal / Dual Authorship Dual first or dual corresponding authorship is allowed if contributions are equal and clearly stated.

Group Authorship Large groups must identify members who qualify as authors. Group names may be included with clear contributor identification.

Authorship Disputes Authors must resolve authorship issues themselves. Institutions should handle disputes following COPE guidelines.

Authorship Changes Changes (add/remove/reorder) before acceptance require written agreement from all authors, including the one added/removed.

Author Contributions (CRediT) All authors must specify contributions using the CRediT taxonomy (e.g., Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing). This appears in the Declarations section.

ORCID Authors are encouraged to provide ORCID iDs for proper identification.

Acknowledgments Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged with their specific role.

Use of AI Tools
AI tools cannot be authors.
AI may be used only for language improvement, not for generating scientific ideas or analyses.
Non-disclosure of AI use may be considered misconduct.

AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Scientific Writing

AI tools cannot be listed as authors, as authorship requires human accountability. Authors may use AI or machine-learning tools only for language editing, grammar correction, or readability improvements.

AI must not be used to generate research ideas, design experiments, analyze data, or draw scientific conclusions. All scientific content must be created and verified by the authors.

Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript, regardless of AI assistance.

Disclosure of AI Use

If AI tools are used, authors must include a disclosure statement in the Declarations section. Example:

“The authors used [AI tool] for language editing. All content was reviewed and verified by the authors, who take full responsibility for the final manuscript.”

Basic tools for spelling, grammar, or reference checking do not require disclosure.

Misconduct

Failure to disclose AI use when required may be treated as publication misconduct, following COPE guidelines.

Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when a person’s judgment about a manuscript may be influenced by financial, personal, academic, or institutional relationships. Conflicts may be real, potential, or perceived.

Common examples include financial interests (funding, employment, patents), academic or professional relationships, and personal associations.

Authors

Authors must include a COI statement in the manuscript.
If no conflicts exist, use:
“The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

The corresponding author must ensure all co-authors provide accurate disclosures.

Reviewers

Reviewers must declare any conflicts (e.g., recent collaboration, institutional ties, financial interests).
If a conflict exists, the reviewer should decline or notify the editor.

Editors and Editorial Staff

Editors, board members, and staff must disclose any conflicts.
If a conflict exists, the editor will be removed from handling the manuscript.
Submissions from editorial board members or guest editors are handled independently to ensure fairness.

Funding Disclosure

Authors must list all funding sources and grant numbers.
They must also state the sponsor’s role (if any) in study design, data analysis, manuscript writing, or publication decisions.

Editors, Board Members, Guest Editors, and Editorial Staff

All editors, board members, guest editors, and editorial staff must disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to manuscripts they handle. If a conflict exists or could be perceived as compromising impartiality, the editor must inform the editorial office and recuse themselves. The Editor-in-Chief will reassign the manuscript to an independent editor.

To maintain transparency, manuscripts submitted by editorial board members or guest editors are handled separately by other qualified editors, without the involvement of the submitting editor.

Research Ethics

The journal upholds the highest standards of research integrity. Authors must ensure their work follows all relevant institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines.

Human Participants & Data
Studies involving human participants, surveys, or personal data must follow recognized ethical standards. Informed consent is required, and consent for publication must be obtained when sensitive data (e.g., images, audio) is used.

Animal Research
Studies involving animals must follow approved ethical guidelines such as the ARRIVE Guidelines and have clearance from an authorized Animal Ethics Committee.

Data Integrity & Safety
Authors must ensure honest and transparent reporting of all data and methods. Research involving hazardous materials or sensitive technologies must follow accepted safety and engineering ethics standards.

References:
OECD Human Research Guidelines
ARRIVE Guidelines for Animal Research
COPE Guidelines
IEEE Code of Ethics

Experimental Studies & Registration

Experimental studies include testing of systems, prototypes, materials, software, or processes in labs, simulations, or field/user trials. Authors must follow ethical and professional standards (COPE, OECD) and provide approvals or compliance details when required.

Research Ethics & Compliance

Human Participants: Ethics approval and informed consent required for surveys or user studies.

Safety & Environment: Follow applicable safety standards; avoid harm to people or the environment.

Data Transparency: Share data, codes, or simulation files; include a Data Availability Statement.

Conflicts of Interest: Must be disclosed; if none: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Intellectual Property: Disclose patents or proprietary methods.

Confidentiality

All editors, reviewers, and authors must maintain strict confidentiality regarding manuscripts and the peer review process.

Reviewers: Treat manuscripts as confidential; do not use content for personal gain. Delete or destroy copies after review. Consultation with colleagues requires editorial permission. Reviewer identities remain anonymous under the single-blind system.

Editors: Manuscript details are not shared outside the editorial team, except in cases of suspected misconduct.

Records: For rejected manuscripts, copies are removed unless retention is legally or ethically required. For published manuscripts, records are kept for at least three years.

Replication: Methods must allow independent reproduction; limitations acknowledged.

Publication Ethics: Follow COPE; plagiarism, fabrication, or duplicate submission prohibited; manuscripts checked via iThenticate.

Data and Materials Availability Policy

Authors must provide a Data and Materials Availability Statement in all submissions. Data, code, models, and other materials should be deposited in public repositories (e.g., Zenodo, GitHub, Figshare) with links or DOIs included.

If data cannot be shared due to confidentiality, security, or IP restrictions, authors must explain this in the statement. Third-party datasets must be properly acknowledged, with access details if available.

For articles with no new data (e.g., reviews), authors should state: “No new data were generated or analyzed in this study.”

The editorial office may request raw data or supporting materials to verify results; failure to comply may lead to rejection or retraction.

Citation Policy

Authors must cite relevant, original sources to support statements in their manuscripts, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and academic integrity. Citations should be diverse and not over-rely on one region or excessive self-citation.

Citation Manipulation: Practices such as excessive self-citation, coercive citations, or citation stacking are unethical and will lead to manuscript rejection. Legitimate self-citations must be relevant and justified.

The journal follows COPE guidelines on citation ethics and may report violations to institutions or funding bodies.

References & Citation Policy

General Guidelines:

All cited works must be accurate, complete, and relevant.

Every reference cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and vice versa.

Citation Style:

The journal follows Vancouver style (numeric).

In-text citations use numbers in square brackets [1].

References are listed in the order they appear in the text.

Include: Author(s), title, journal/book, volume, pages, year, DOI/URL if available.

Examples:

Journal: [1] A. Smith, B. Jones. “Impact of telemedicine on patient care,” J Clin Med, 2022;11:234–240.

Book: [2] M. Johnson. Clinical Nursing Practice, 3rd ed. New York: Springer, 2021.

Website: [3] WHO. “Global Health Observatory,” 2023. Available: https://www.who.int/data/gho

Reference Management:

Authors are encouraged to use EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley for consistency.

Plagiarism & Originality:

Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

All manuscripts are checked using iThenticate.

Violations may lead to rejection, correction, or retraction.

Duplicate Publication:

Manuscripts must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.

Prior related work must be cited, and differences clearly stated.

Exceptions: Preprints, theses, conference abstracts, datasets, clinical trial registry postings.

Editorial Oversight:

Redundant or duplicate publications will follow COPE guidelines.

Key Policies Covered:

Authorship criteria

Plagiarism & originality

Duplicate publication

Conflict of interest

Peer review process

Data availability

Research ethics

Corrections & retractions

Open access & copyright

Preprints & archiving

Misconduct Policy

The journal handles all cases of scientific misconduct according to COPE, WAME, and ICMJE standards.

Types of Misconduct:

Falsification of data: Fabrication, selective reporting, omission, or distortion of results.

Plagiarism: Using others’ words, ideas, or results without credit.

Authorship issues: Excluding contributors, including non-contributors, or duplicate publication.

Misappropriation of ideas: Using confidential information improperly.

Violation of research practices: Manipulating experiments, biased analysis, or misleading reporting.

Regulatory non-compliance: Ignoring laws or ethical guidelines.

Inappropriate conduct: False accusations or retaliation against whistleblowers.

Duplicate publication: Publishing the same work in multiple journals without disclosure.

Conflicts and disclosure: Failing to declare conflicts of interest, funding, or affiliations.

Reference and Citation Misconduct:

Citation manipulation or excessive self-citation.

Omission of relevant prior work.

Inaccurate, fabricated, or ghost references.

Improper formatting violating journal style.

Handling Allegations:

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate).

Reviewers and readers may report suspected misconduct.

The editorial board follows COPE guidelines; sanctions may include rejection, retraction, or notification of institutions.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Policy

All articles published in the journal are assigned a unique DOI upon final acceptance and publication. The DOI provides a permanent, citable, and reliable link to the article online.

Key Points:

The DOI ensures long-term accessibility and retrievability of the published content.

Authors should include the DOI in citations whenever referencing published articles.

Any corrections, updates, or retractions will be linked to the original DOI to maintain a clear publication record.

The journal uses Crossref for DOI registration and management.

Once assigned, the DOI remains unchanged even if the article is updated or moved within the journal platform.