Editorial Policies

Overview

The International Journal of Clinical Anesthesia and Research (IJCAR) operates under a transparent and ethical editorial policy designed to safeguard academic integrity, promote unbiased publication practices, and maintain trust between authors, editors, and readers. IJCAR aligns its editorial standards with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), and WAME (World Association of Medical Editors) guidelines.

“Editorial independence, fairness, and scientific rigor form the foundation of IJCAR’s publication ethics.”

Editorial Independence

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial board exercise full independence in evaluating manuscripts. Decisions to accept or reject submissions are based solely on scholarly merit, relevance, methodological soundness, and contribution to the field. IJCAR strictly prohibits any external influence—financial, institutional, or political—on editorial decisions.

Manuscript Evaluation Policy

• All manuscripts undergo initial editorial screening for quality, originality, and compliance with journal scope.
• Submissions meeting initial criteria are subjected to a double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
• Editorial decisions are based on reviewers’ recommendations, adherence to ethical standards, and relevance to the readership.

Peer Review Integrity

IJCAR maintains confidentiality and impartiality throughout the peer review process. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and must declare conflicts of interest before accepting an assignment. Review reports are treated as confidential documents and are not shared outside the editorial process.

Conflict of Interest Policy

All participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, and editors—must disclose potential conflicts of interest. Examples include financial relationships, personal connections, or academic rivalries that could bias judgment. Declared conflicts are transparently documented in published articles when relevant.

Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship is restricted to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission. IJCAR follows the ICMJE criteria for authorship.

Editorial Board Responsibilities

• Maintain high academic and ethical standards.
• Ensure fair peer review and confidentiality of submissions.
• Promote transparency and discourage plagiarism or redundant publication.
• Address ethical concerns promptly and constructively.

Data Sharing and Reproducibility

IJCAR encourages authors to share datasets, protocols, and materials to promote reproducibility and scientific progress. Data sharing statements should accompany submissions when applicable, and repositories such as Zenodo or Figshare may be cited.

Ethical Oversight

Studies involving human participants or animals must include approval details from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee. The journal requires explicit statements of ethical compliance and informed consent.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

If a significant error, ethical breach, or data manipulation is discovered post-publication, IJCAR will publish corrections, retractions, or editorial notices as appropriate, following COPE retraction guidelines.

Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism-detection tools before peer review. Submissions exceeding the acceptable similarity threshold may be returned or rejected. Authors are responsible for ensuring originality and proper citation of prior work.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions within 30 days of notification. Appeals are reviewed by an independent editorial committee. Complaints regarding editorial conduct, peer review, or publication ethics are handled in accordance with COPE complaint procedures.

Policy Table Summary

Transparency and Open Access

IJCAR operates under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0), ensuring that published research remains openly available to all readers while preserving author rights. The editorial process is transparent, and authors are informed of each decision stage.

Editorial Misconduct

Any editorial misconduct—bias, suppression of dissent, or conflict-driven decision-making—is strictly prohibited. Reported cases are investigated under COPE’s “Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers and Editors.”

Contact the Editorial Office

For questions related to editorial policies or ethical practices:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.anesthesiaresjournal.com