Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

Health Nexus is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, and transparency. The journal follows internationally recognized guidelines, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

1. Ethical Principles

All parties involved in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher (Panorama Scholarly Group, PSG)—must adhere to principles of:

  • Honesty and scientific integrity
  • Transparency and accountability
  • Objectivity and fairness
  • Respect for research participants and subjects

2. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to Health Nexus must ensure that:

2.1 Originality and Plagiarism

  • Manuscripts are original and have not been published elsewhere.
  • Proper citation of all sources is provided.
  • Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

2.2 Data Integrity and Reproducibility

  • Data are accurately reported without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.
  • Sufficient methodological detail is provided to allow reproducibility.
  • Raw data should be made available upon reasonable request.

2.3 Multiple or Redundant Publication

  • Manuscripts are not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication is not permitted.

2.4 Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be based on:

  • Substantial contributions to study conception/design, data acquisition, or analysis.
  • Drafting or critically revising the manuscript.
  • Final approval of the version to be published.

All authors must agree to submission and publication.

2.5 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.
  • Sources of funding must be clearly stated.

2.6 Ethical Approval

  • Studies involving human participants must include ethical approval from an appropriate review board.
  • Informed consent must be obtained and documented.
  • Animal studies must comply with relevant ethical standards.

2.7 Clinical Trial Registration

  • Clinical trials should be registered in a publicly accessible registry prior to enrollment.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations.
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscript content.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.
  • Avoid using unpublished material for personal advantage.

4. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of Health Nexus are responsible for:

  • Ensuring fair, unbiased, and confidential peer review.
  • Making decisions based solely on scientific merit and relevance.
  • Avoiding conflicts of interest.
  • Addressing ethical concerns promptly and transparently.

Editors follow COPE guidelines in handling:

  • Suspected misconduct
  • Ethical complaints
  • Appeals and disputes

5. Publisher Responsibilities

Panorama Scholarly Group (PSG), as the publisher, supports:

  • Editorial independence
  • Ethical oversight and compliance
  • Correction of the scientific record when necessary
  • Long-term digital preservation and accessibility

6. Research Misconduct

The journal takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, including:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Image manipulation
  • Improper authorship attribution

Investigations will follow COPE flowcharts, and actions may include:

  • Manuscript rejection
  • Publication of corrections or retractions
  • Notification of authors’ institutions

7. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

  • Corrections (Errata): Issued for minor errors that do not affect conclusions.
  • Retractions: Issued in cases of major errors or misconduct.
  • Expressions of Concern: Published when investigations are ongoing.

All updates will be clearly linked to the original article.

8. Data Sharing and Transparency

Health Nexus encourages:

  • Data availability statements.
  • Sharing of datasets in public repositories.
  • Transparency in methods and reporting.

9. Ethical Oversight for Integrative Medicine

Given the journal’s focus on integrative medicine:

  • Studies involving Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) must ensure standardization and safety reporting.
  • Herbal and intervention studies should include quality control and composition details.
  • Cross-disciplinary claims must be supported by scientifically valid evidence.

10. Post-Publication Discussions and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions with justified evidence.
  • Post-publication critiques are welcomed and evaluated transparently.