Compliance with the principles and recommendations of COPE, WAME, DORA

The Editorial Board of the journal adheres to internationally recognized standards of publication ethics, editorial integrity, and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal’s editorial policies are aligned with the principles and recommendations of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), WAME (World Association of Medical Editors), DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment), and ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors).

1. COPE Principles (Committee on Publication Ethics)

Transparency of editorial processes: the journal ensures clarity and openness in submission, peer review, editorial decision-making, and publication procedures.
Editorial independence: decisions regarding publication are based solely on the scientific merit of the manuscript, free from external influence.
Academic integrity: all submissions are subject to plagiarism screening and checks for fabrication, falsification, and redundant publication.
Responsible authorship: authorship is limited to individuals who have made a substantial intellectual contribution; guest, honorary, or ghost authorship is not permitted.
Handling of complaints and appeals: the journal maintains clear and transparent procedures for addressing ethical concerns, complaints, and appeals.
Correction of the scholarly record: mechanisms such as corrigenda, expressions of concern, and retractions are applied in accordance with established standards.

2. WAME Principles (World Association of Medical Editors)

Editorial independence: editorial decisions are not influenced by commercial, political, or institutional interests.
Conflict of interest disclosure: authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
Fair and unbiased peer review: the journal ensures an objective, timely, and equitable peer review process.
Transparency of funding: authors must disclose sources of research funding, including grants and sponsorship.
Prevention of unethical practices: the journal prohibits citation manipulation, coercive citation, and other forms of editorial misconduct.

3. DORA Principles (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment)

Content-based evaluation: manuscripts are assessed based on their scientific quality, originality, and relevance, rather than journal-level metrics.
Responsible use of metrics: journal-based indicators such as the Journal Impact Factor are not used as a primary measure of research quality.
Recognition of diverse research outputs: value is assigned not only to articles but also to datasets, software, methodologies, and applied research outcomes.
Support for open science: the journal encourages open access, data sharing, and the dissemination of preprints where appropriate.
Inclusivity in research assessment: interdisciplinary and diverse research approaches are recognized and supported.

4. ICMJE Principles (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors)

Authorship criteria: authorship is granted only to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the research.
Author responsibility: authors are accountable for the accuracy and integrity of their work.
Research ethics compliance: studies must comply with ethical standards, particularly in relation to human participants, animals, and sensitive data.
Data transparency: authors are encouraged to preserve, archive, and provide access to research data.

5. General Commitments of the Journal

The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, ensuring transparency in editorial processes, promoting responsible research practices, and continuously improving its policies in line with evolving international standards.