Confidentiality and Ethics

Safeguarding Editorial Integrity, Privacy, and Ethical Accountability
The Journal of Advanced Pediatrics and Child Health (JAPCH) is committed to maintaining strict confidentiality, fairness, and ethical integrity across all editorial processes.

1. Editorial Confidentiality Commitment

Editors must uphold the highest standards of confidentiality in handling manuscripts, reviewer information, author details, and peer-review communications. Unpublished data or findings must never be disclosed or used for personal advantage.

2. Manuscript Handling Protocols

  • All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents.
  • Access is restricted to editors, reviewers, and authorized editorial staff directly involved in evaluation.
  • Editors must not share or discuss manuscript details outside the review process.

3. Confidentiality in Peer Review

Editors are responsible for preserving the anonymity and integrity of peer review. Under JAPCH’s double-blind peer review model:

  • Author identities are hidden from reviewers.
  • Reviewer identities remain undisclosed to authors.
  • Reviewer comments are shared only with the editorial board and authors after editorial approval.

4. Confidential Data and Research Integrity

Editors must handle confidential data—including clinical results, patient information, and proprietary research—with strict caution. Data access should comply with GDPR and institutional ethics guidelines.

5. Ethical Obligations of Editors

Editors must adhere to ethical standards established by COPE, ICMJE, and WAME, ensuring impartiality and transparency in editorial decision-making.

6. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Editors must not handle manuscripts where a conflict of interest may exist, including:

  • Personal or professional relationships with the author.
  • Financial interests tied to the study outcome.
  • Institutional affiliation overlap or competitive research interests.

Such manuscripts should be reassigned to another editor without delay.

7. Data Protection and Secure Storage

Editorial systems must ensure secure handling and storage of author and reviewer data. JAPCH uses encrypted communication and password-protected editorial systems that comply with international data security standards.

8. Handling Misuse or Breach of Confidentiality

Any breach of confidentiality—intentional or accidental—must be reported immediately to the Editor-in-Chief. Corrective measures include internal investigation, data access suspension, or removal of editorial privileges.

9. Ethical Peer Review Conduct

Editors must ensure reviewers adhere to confidentiality and ethical guidelines by:

  • Prohibiting unauthorized sharing of manuscripts.
  • Preventing citation or use of unpublished data.
  • Ensuring reviewers decline assignments with conflicts of interest.

10. Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

Editors must ensure manuscripts involving human or animal subjects comply with ethical standards, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, informed consent, and humane treatment protocols following the Declaration of Helsinki.

11. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Editorial Tools

If AI-assisted tools (e.g., plagiarism checkers or language models) are used in editorial workflows, editors must disclose their use internally and ensure compliance with COPE’s AI and Publication Ethics framework.

12. Record Retention

Editorial decisions, correspondence, and review records must be securely archived for a minimum of five years. Access is limited to authorized editorial and compliance officers only.

13. Transparency and Accountability

Editors are accountable for maintaining the integrity of the journal’s editorial processes. All actions must be transparent, documented, and subject to review by the Editorial Board or publisher when required.

14. Ethical Decision Review Board

JAPCH maintains an internal ethics committee that reviews serious cases involving data fabrication, breach of confidentiality, or manipulation. Editors must cooperate fully with such reviews.

15. Continuous Training and Ethical Awareness

Editors are encouraged to attend COPE and WAME workshops to stay informed about new developments in confidentiality, research ethics, and peer review standards.

16. Penalties for Breach of Ethics

Editors found violating confidentiality or ethical standards may face disciplinary actions, including warning, temporary suspension, or permanent removal from the editorial board.

17. Contact Information

For confidentiality or ethics-related concerns:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pediatricshealthjournal.com