Editor's Guidelines
Introduction
Editors at the International Journal of Clinical Anesthesia and Research (IJCAR) play a vital role in maintaining scientific integrity, ensuring fair peer review, and upholding publication ethics. These guidelines define editorial responsibilities based on COPE and ICMJE best practices.
“Editorial independence is the cornerstone of trustworthy scientific communication.”
Core Responsibilities of Editors
- Manage the review and decision process with impartiality.
- Ensure timely peer review and maintain communication with authors and reviewers.
- Safeguard confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
- Promote ethical integrity and compliance with journal policies.
Editorial Decision-Making
Editors must evaluate manuscripts based solely on scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Decisions should not be influenced by race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs of authors.
Conflict of Interest Management
- Editors must disclose any conflict that may influence editorial judgment.
- They must recuse themselves from handling submissions where such conflicts exist.
- Alternative editors or associate editors must be assigned in such cases.
Reviewer Selection and Oversight
- Choose qualified reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript.
- Ensure that reviewers provide objective and constructive feedback.
- Monitor reviewer performance and adherence to confidentiality standards.
Confidentiality
Editors must keep all submitted manuscripts and reviewer reports confidential. No information may be shared outside the editorial team without explicit authorization.
Ethical Oversight and Misconduct Handling
- Detect and act upon ethical violations such as plagiarism, falsification, or authorship disputes.
- Follow COPE’s flowcharts for ethical problem resolution.
- Issue retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern as needed.
Editorial Independence
The Editor-in-Chief has complete independence over manuscript acceptance or rejection. No external body or financial consideration may influence editorial outcomes.
Manuscript Handling Workflow
| Stage | Editor’s Responsibility | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Screening | Assess scope, originality, and ethics compliance. | Within 5 days |
| Reviewer Assignment | Select at least two reviewers with subject expertise. | Within 7 days |
| Decision Phase | Recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection based on feedback. | Within 30 days |
| Production Handoff | Verify metadata and final author approval before publication. | Within 7 days |
Communication Ethics
Editors should maintain courteous, transparent communication with authors and reviewers. Confidential reviewer comments must not be shared without consent.
Data Privacy and Security
- Handle personal data in compliance with GDPR and institutional policies.
- Ensure secure digital storage of submissions and peer-review records.
Handling Appeals and Complaints
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by providing justified scientific reasons. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, if necessary, an independent editorial board panel.
Training and Accountability
- All editors are encouraged to undergo annual training on publication ethics and COPE case studies.
- Editorial performance and timeliness are reviewed periodically by the journal management team.
Editorial Collaboration and Transparency
Editors should collaborate with other journals and organizations to enhance integrity in research communication. This includes sharing retraction data and misconduct reports where ethically appropriate.
Contact Information
For editorial support or clarification:
Email: [email protected]
Alternate: [email protected]
Website: www.anesthesiaresjournal.com