Editor's Guidelines

The Journal of Community Medicine and Health Sciences (JCMHS) relies on the expertise and ethical integrity of its editors to ensure the highest quality of scholarly publishing. These Editor’s Guidelines establish the standards, responsibilities, and professional conduct expected of editors involved in the journal’s editorial process. The guidelines align with principles set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ICMJE, and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

1. Editorial Independence

Editors must exercise complete independence in all editorial decisions. They should be free from external influence—whether from authors, reviewers, sponsors, or institutional stakeholders. Editorial judgments must be based solely on the academic merit, originality, and scientific value of the submitted work.

2. Role and Responsibilities

• Oversee the peer-review process for assigned manuscripts.
• Select suitable reviewers based on expertise and impartiality.
• Ensure timely review, fair evaluation, and efficient communication with authors.
• Recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection based solely on scholarly criteria.
• Uphold confidentiality and ethical handling of all submissions.

3. Ethical Oversight

Editors must detect, prevent, and address potential ethical issues, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, or authorship disputes. They should follow COPE’s flowcharts for investigating suspected misconduct and work closely with the editorial office to ensure appropriate action.

4. Confidentiality

Editors must maintain strict confidentiality concerning submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities. Manuscripts or data may not be shared outside the editorial process or used for personal research without written author consent.

5. Conflict of Interest

Editors must declare any personal, financial, or professional conflicts that could bias their decisions. They must recuse themselves from handling submissions where such conflicts exist and reassign responsibility to another editor.

6. Fairness and Impartiality

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs. All authors must be given equal opportunity for publication based on the manuscript’s scholarly quality.

7. Peer Review Management

Editors are responsible for implementing and overseeing a transparent, double-blind peer-review process. They should ensure:

• Reviewers are appropriately qualified and free from conflicts of interest.
• Feedback is constructive, respectful, and relevant to manuscript improvement.
• Decisions are well-documented and justified within the editorial system.

8. Decision-Making Criteria

Decisions must consider:

• Novelty and originality of research.
• Scientific accuracy and methodological rigor.
• Ethical compliance and data integrity.
• Relevance to the journal’s scope and readership.

9. Timeliness and Responsiveness

Editors should ensure prompt processing of manuscripts to avoid undue delay. Authors must be informed of decisions as soon as they are made. Communication with reviewers and authors should remain professional and efficient.

10. Editorial Communication

Editors must use official communication channels provided by the publisher and maintain professional tone in all correspondence. Any disputes or escalations should be addressed through the Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor.

11. Handling Appeals and Complaints

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions. Editors must evaluate appeals fairly, forwarding them to the Editor-in-Chief for independent review. Complaints regarding editorial conduct are investigated following COPE’s best-practice guidance.

12. Authorship and Contributor Disputes

In cases of suspected authorship manipulation or contributor disputes, editors must halt processing until the issue is resolved. They should request clarification from all authors and consult COPE’s “How to Handle Authorship Disputes” guidelines before proceeding.

13. Research and Publication Ethics

• Ensure that all studies involving humans or animals include ethical approval documentation.
• Reject manuscripts violating recognized research ethics or international norms.
• Promote transparency in data reporting, funding disclosures, and competing interests.

14. Plagiarism and Misconduct

Editors must ensure all manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening through iThenticate. If plagiarism or ethical misconduct is detected, editors must follow established COPE procedures, including notifying the author’s institution where necessary.

15. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Editors are responsible for identifying and correcting errors post-publication. In cases of verified misconduct, they must initiate retraction or issue an Expression of Concern following COPE and ICMJE guidelines to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

16. Collaboration with Reviewers

Editors should foster respectful collaboration with reviewers, valuing their time and expertise. Feedback from reviewers must be acknowledged, and reviewers’ contributions may be publicly recognized (with consent) through annual reviewer acknowledgments.

17. Editorial Board Conduct

Members of the Editorial Board must actively contribute to the journal’s mission by:

• Encouraging quality submissions within their discipline.
• Advising on editorial policy and journal development.
• Participating in strategic discussions and annual performance reviews.

18. Continuous Improvement and Training

Editors should participate in professional development workshops organized by the publisher to stay updated on best practices in peer review, ethics, and digital publishing. The journal promotes continuous learning for all editorial members.

19. Relationship with Publisher

The editorial team operates independently from the publisher in content-related matters. The publisher supports editorial operations but does not influence decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection.

20. Data Confidentiality and GDPR Compliance

Editors must handle all author, reviewer, and institutional data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the journal’s Privacy Statement.

21. Journal Development and Outreach

Editors are encouraged to promote the journal within their academic networks, facilitate collaborations, and uphold the visibility and reputation of JCMHS in the scholarly community.

22. Ethical Responsibility in Editorial Decision-Making

Every editorial decision carries ethical implications. Editors must demonstrate impartiality, ensure transparency, and provide justifiable reasoning for their recommendations and actions throughout the editorial process.

23. Handling Sensitive Submissions

For manuscripts involving controversial topics or sensitive public health issues, editors must apply additional scrutiny and, where necessary, consult external ethics experts before making a decision.

24. Editorial Accountability

Editors are accountable for the content they publish. They must maintain transparent documentation of review decisions, communication history, and conflict-of-interest disclosures for all manuscripts they manage.

25. Contact and Support

For queries or support, editors may contact the journal management:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subject: “Editorial Inquiry – [Manuscript ID]”
• Response time: 3–5 business days

“Editors are the guardians of the scientific record — ensuring that every published work upholds the principles of accuracy, integrity, and fairness.”