Publication Ethics

The editorial board of the journal adheres to high standards of publication ethics and takes all measures to prevent malpractice in scientific practice. In its activities, we follow the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

1. Authorship Criteria and Contributions

Definition of Authorship

Each person listed as an “author” must meet criteria based on a significant intellectual contribution to the work. According to ICMJE recommendations, authorship is based on the following criteria:

  1. Substantial contribution to the conception or design of the study, data collection, analysis, or interpretation.
  2. Drafting the manuscript or critically revising it with important intellectual input.
  3. Final approval of the version submitted for publication.
  4. Agreement to be accountable for the content of the article.

Corresponding Author

The person responsible for primary communication with the editorial office during submission, review, and publication. He or she provides documentation, contact details of all co-authors, and ensures that all participants are familiar with the final version of the article.

Non-Authors

Participants who do not meet all authorship criteria (e.g., funding acquisition, technical assistance, general supervision of the research group, or writing support without scientific contribution) cannot be listed as authors. Their contribution should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section.

Changes in Authorship

Any changes to the list of authors (addition, removal, or order change) after submission are possible only before publication and require written consent from all authors (including those added or removed), with justification of the reasons.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors, as they cannot bear legal or ethical responsibility for research results. Use of AI must be declared by authors in the section “Use of AI.”

2. Responsibilities in the Publication Process

Authors’ Responsibilities

  • Ensure originality of the research and proper citation of sources.
  • Include only individuals who made a real contribution in the list of authors.
  • Be prepared to provide raw research data upon editorial request.
  • Disclose financial or personal conflicts of interest.

Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief bears full responsibility for the overall scientific quality of the journal and its development strategy:

  • Make final publication decisions based on scientific value and peer review results.
  • Ensure editorial independence from commercial interests.
  • Form the editorial board and engage qualified reviewers.
  • Respond promptly to reports of misconduct (plagiarism, falsification) by publishing corrections or retractions.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

  • Conduct objective peer review without personal criticism of authors.
  • Maintain full confidentiality regarding received manuscripts.
  • Alert the editorial office to signs of plagiarism or duplicate publication.
  • Decline review if a conflict of interest exists.

Responsibilities of the Editorial Office and Managing Editor

The editorial office and managing editor ensure the operational functioning of the journal, technical preparation of issues, and administrative support of the publication process.

  • Ensure technical operation of the journal, initial plagiarism check, and compliance with requirements.
  • Coordinate blind peer review and communication with authors.
  • Perform copyediting, layout, and timely submission of metadata to bibliometric databases.
  • Maintain archives of materials and investigation protocols for 3 years.

3. Conflict of Interest Policy

The editorial office requires all participants in the publication process to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

For authors: When submitting an article, authors must declare any financial (grants, honoraria, shares) or personal relationships that may be perceived as influencing the results. If no conflict of interest exists, authors must state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

For reviewers: Report employment at the same institution or joint projects with authors and decline review.

For editors: Transfer consideration of the article to another board member if they have a personal interest in it.

 

4. Research Ethics and Patient Rights Protection

The editorial policy of the journal is based on high ethical standards and requires authors to strictly adhere to the principles of bioethics when conducting research involving humans and animals.

  1. Research Involving Human Participants

All clinical and experimental studies must be approved by the relevant local or institutional Ethics Committees and comply with international standards. The manuscript must explicitly state that such approval was obtained (including the protocol number and date of the meeting).

Submissions must comply with:

  1. Informed Consent and Confidentiality

The patients' right to privacy is paramount. Authors must adhere to the following rules:

  • No names, initials, medical record numbers, or any other identifying data should appear in the text, photographs, radiographs, or charts.
  • If any information or images are essential for scientific purposes but might identify the patient, the author must obtain informed written consent for publication from the patient before submitting the article to the editorial office.
  • The fact that informed consent was obtained must be documented within the manuscript (typically in the "Materials and Methods" section or under a separate "Ethics Statement" heading).
  1. Research Involving Animals

Experiments involving animals must be conducted humanely, ensuring the minimization of pain and distress. Authors must confirm that their work complies with:

  • The Law of Ukraine On the Protection of Animals from Cruelty (No. 3447-IV);
  • Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes;
  • The European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (ETS 123).

The article must specify the species and number of animals used, as well as the anesthesia and euthanasia methods applied, if applicable to the study design.