Editorial Policies

  1. Publisher Policies
  2. Creative Commons License
  3. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
  4. COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors)
  5. Advertisement Policies
  6. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors)
  7. Editorial Policies
  8. Editorial Process
  9. COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism
  10. Peer Review Process
  1. Publisher Policies:
    The Surgical Research - Open Journal follows strict publisher policies that align with ethical standards and academic integrity in scientific publishing. The journal is committed to providing high-quality content that advances the field of surgical research while ensuring that all research is original and transparent. The publisher upholds transparency in the peer-review and editorial processes, ensuring all manuscripts are subject to rigorous evaluation by experts in the field. The policies include guidelines on manuscript submission, data sharing, and ethical compliance, with an emphasis on protecting authors' intellectual property and ensuring that their rights are respected. The journal’s policies also address potential issues such as misconduct, including plagiarism and falsification of data. As part of its commitment to open access, the journal ensures that all published articles are freely accessible, and authors retain the rights to their work under a Creative Commons license. The publisher prioritizes fairness, transparency, and the protection of participants’ rights in all aspects of the publication process, from submission to dissemination. Any conflicts of interest are disclosed, and a clear process for errata and retractions is in place to maintain the integrity of the academic record.
  1. Creative Commons License:
    The Surgical Research - Open Journal employs a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND) for all articles published within the journal, which promotes the open-access model and the unrestricted dissemination of knowledge while maintaining proper attribution to the authors. Under this license, others are allowed to share the work for non-commercial purposes, as long as they provide appropriate credit to the original authors and do not modify the content. The journal does not allow derivative works to ensure the original research is presented as intended by the authors. This approach aligns with the journal’s open-access policy, ensuring that all published articles are freely accessible to readers, regardless of location or institutional affiliation. Authors retain copyright over their work and grant the journal the right to publish and distribute the article under the chosen Creative Commons license. This licensing model supports a transparent, open scholarly environment where researchers, educators, and practitioners can easily access and share high-quality surgical research without financial barriers. It fosters global collaboration and knowledge exchange, allowing the work to reach a wide audience and maximize its academic and clinical impact. Additionally, the journal encourages authors to deposit their work in institutional repositories, maintaining the benefits of open-access publication.
  1. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement:
    The Surgical Research - Open Journal adheres to a comprehensive publication ethics and malpractice statement, ensuring the highest standards of academic integrity. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical guidelines to prevent misconduct in the publishing process, including plagiarism, data falsification, and authorship disputes. All manuscripts undergo a thorough peer-review process to assess the quality and validity of the research, and any potential ethical issues are addressed before publication. Authors are expected to submit original, unpublished work and to avoid redundant publication or self-plagiarism. Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with ethical standards, including obtaining informed consent and proper ethical approval from relevant boards. The editorial team, including editors and reviewers, are required to disclose any conflicts of interest and maintain impartiality in their evaluations. The journal also has policies in place for addressing malpractice, such as retraction or correction of articles in cases of research misconduct or inaccuracies that may affect the scientific record. Authors, editors, and reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected ethical breaches or malpractice to the editorial office, which will be investigated following established procedures. The journal strives to uphold the integrity and transparency of scientific research through its rigorous publication ethics.
  1. COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors):
    The Surgical Research - Open Journal follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding conflict of interest (COI) for its editorial team. Editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that might affect their impartiality or the integrity of the review process. This includes financial, professional, or personal relationships that may bias their decisions on a manuscript’s suitability for publication. The journal adheres to COPE’s recommendations for editors to maintain transparency and prevent any influence that could compromise the fairness of the editorial process. Editors are prohibited from making editorial decisions regarding manuscripts they have authored, co-authored, or have any personal stake in. In cases of potential COI, editors must recuse themselves from the decision-making process and allow an impartial colleague to handle the manuscript. This policy ensures that all submissions are judged based on scientific merit and relevance to the field, without bias. The Surgical Research - Open Journal is committed to maintaining the trust of its readers and authors by upholding COPE’s ethical standards for conflict of interest disclosure, ensuring that all decisions made by the editorial team are fair and transparent.
  1. Advertisement Policies:
    The Surgical Research - Open Journal implements a strict advertisement policy to maintain the credibility and scientific integrity of the journal. The journal does not accept advertisements that could compromise its editorial independence or the impartiality of its content. Advertisements, if accepted, must be relevant to the journal’s focus on surgical research and be clearly distinguished from editorial content. Any promotional material must be clearly labeled as advertisements and should not mislead readers about the nature of the content. The journal also ensures that advertisements do not conflict with the interests or values of the research community it serves. Commercial content related to products, services, or events within the field of surgery may be considered, but it must comply with ethical guidelines and be reviewed by the editorial board for appropriateness. Furthermore, all advertising materials must adhere to local regulations and industry standards, particularly regarding medical products and services. The editorial team has the final say on whether an advertisement will be accepted, with a strong commitment to maintaining the journal's scientific objectivity. This policy ensures that the journal’s content remains focused on high-quality research, free from commercial influence, and serves the academic and medical community's best interests.
  1. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors):
    In accordance with the Surgical Research - Open Journal's commitment to transparency, all editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest (COI) and financial relationships that may influence their editorial decisions. Editors must provide full disclosure of any personal, professional, or financial affiliations that could be seen as biasing their judgment when making editorial decisions. This includes relationships with organizations or companies whose products or services may be related to the subject of manuscripts under review. Editors are also required to disclose any financial interests, such as ownership in companies, consultancy agreements, or funding they have received, that could potentially be seen as influencing the editorial process. If an editor has a COI with a manuscript under review, they must recuse themselves from handling that submission, and an alternative editor will be assigned. This ensures the impartiality and fairness of the review process. By enforcing these policies, the journal maintains the trust of authors, reviewers, and readers, ensuring that editorial decisions are made without undue influence. The Surgical Research - Open Journal remains committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in editorial practices and ensuring that all conflicts of interest are appropriately managed.
  1. Editorial Policies:
    The editorial policies of the Surgical Research - Open Journal are designed to uphold the journal’s commitment to high standards of academic publishing. The policies govern the editorial process, including manuscript handling, peer review, and ethical conduct. Editors are responsible for ensuring that all submissions are relevant, scientifically rigorous, and free from any conflicts of interest. Manuscripts are reviewed by expert peers in the field to assess their quality and relevance to the journal's focus on surgical research. The editorial team follows strict guidelines to ensure fairness, transparency, and the protection of intellectual property. Editors also make decisions about the acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts based on the peer-review feedback. The journal encourages authors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and adhere to ethical guidelines in their research. The editorial board works to provide constructive feedback to authors, fostering a collaborative environment for improving research quality. In addition to scientific rigor, the policies emphasize the importance of maintaining confidentiality and respecting authors' rights throughout the editorial process. By adhering to these editorial policies, the Surgical Research - Open Journal ensures the publication of high-quality, ethically conducted research that advances the field of surgery.
  1. Editorial Process:
    The editorial process of the Surgical Research - Open Journal is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and academic rigor. Upon submission, each manuscript is initially screened by the editorial team to confirm that it aligns with the journal’s focus and adheres to submission guidelines. If the manuscript meets these criteria, it is then sent for peer review. The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other, ensuring unbiased and objective assessments of the manuscript’s quality. Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on criteria such as originality, scientific merit, methodology, clarity, and relevance to the field of surgical research. Following peer review, the editor considers reviewers’ comments and makes a decision regarding the manuscript’s acceptance, revision, or rejection. Authors are given detailed feedback and are encouraged to revise their manuscripts accordingly. The revision process may be repeated until the manuscript meets the journal’s standards. Once accepted, the manuscript undergoes final editorial checks before being published. Throughout the process, the editorial team ensures that authors, reviewers, and readers are treated with respect, and that all aspects of the process comply with ethical and professional standards.
  1. COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism:
    The Surgical Research - Open Journal follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to handle plagiarism in the research process. As part of its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the academic record, the journal adheres to COPE's recommendations for detecting and dealing with plagiarism. Manuscripts are routinely checked for plagiarism using specialized software, and any suspected instances of plagiarism are thoroughly investigated. If plagiarism is identified, the manuscript is rejected, and the authors are notified about the breach of academic integrity. In cases where plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal may issue a retraction or correction to the article. The journal encourages authors to ensure their work is original and to properly cite sources to avoid any issues with plagiarism. Authors found to have engaged in plagiarism may be banned from submitting to the journal in the future, depending on the severity of the case. The Surgical Research - Open Journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism and is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing, ensuring that all published content is credible and trustworthy.
  1. Peer Review Process:
    The Surgical Research - Open Journal follows a rigorous peer review process to maintain high standards in publishing. Manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo double-blind peer review, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other, ensuring unbiased evaluation. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the field of surgical research and are tasked with assessing the quality, originality, methodology, and overall relevance of the manuscript. They provide constructive feedback to authors, which helps improve the manuscript’s clarity, scientific validity, and impact. The editorial team evaluates the reviewers’ comments and makes decisions about whether to accept, revise, or reject the manuscript. Authors are given an opportunity to revise their work in response to reviewer feedback, and revised manuscripts undergo further review if necessary. The peer-review process aims to ensure the publication of scientifically sound, high-quality research. The journal maintains strict confidentiality throughout the review process and ensures that conflicts of interest are disclosed. By adhering to this robust peer-review model, the Surgical Research - Open Journal aims to maintain the integrity of the research it publishes and contribute to the advancement of the field of surgery.