Publication Ethics

All individuals listed as authors must have made a significant contribution to the research, analysis, and writing of the manuscript. Authorship should be based on substantial intellectual contributions to the study, and all authors must approve the final manuscript.

• Substantial ContributionEvery listed author must have contributed meaningfully to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported work.
• Final ApprovalAll authors must review and approve the final version of the manuscript before submission.
• AcknowledgementsContributions of other individuals, such as technical assistance, should be acknowledged in the acknowledgements section but not listed as authors if their contributions are not substantial.

Authors must ensure that their work is original and properly cite any sources, data, or ideas that are not their own. Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly prohibited.

• Original WorkAll submitted manuscripts must be original, representing work that has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration at another journal.
• Proper CitationAuthors must provide full and accurate citations for all referenced work to avoid any unethical use of others' intellectual property.
• No Self-PlagiarismReusing one's own previously published work without proper acknowledgment or disclosure is considered self-plagiarism and is strictly prohibited.

Authors are responsible for accurately reporting research methods, data, and results. Data should be presented honestly, without manipulation or fabrication, and in a way that allows others to verify the findings.

• Honest Data PresentationAll data must be reported accurately without selective omission, manipulation, or fabrication of results.
• ReproducibilityResearch methods must be described in sufficient detail to allow independent verification and reproduction of the findings.
• Corrections and RetractionsIn case of any errors or discrepancies in published work, authors are obligated to promptly correct or retract the paper in collaboration with the journal.

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their work. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest is considered unethical.

• Financial InterestsAny financial relationships, funding sources, or commercial interests related to the research must be disclosed transparently.
• Personal RelationshipsPersonal relationships or academic rivalries that may compromise objectivity must be declared at the time of submission or review assignment.
• TransparencyAny potential biases should be acknowledged transparently to maintain trust in the integrity of the publication process.

The peer review process must be conducted in a fair, confidential, and unbiased manner. Reviewers should evaluate manuscripts based on the quality and integrity of the research alone.

• Merit-Based EvaluationReviewers must assess manuscripts based solely on the quality and integrity of the research, not on personal interests or prejudices.
• ConfidentialityAll submitted manuscripts and associated reviewer comments must be treated as confidential documents throughout the review process.
• Recusal ObligationAny reviewer who has a conflict of interest with the submitted manuscript must recuse themselves and notify the editorial team immediately.

For research involving human subjects or animals, authors must obtain ethical approval from relevant institutional review boards or ethics committees.

• Ethics Committee ApprovalApproval from a recognised institutional review board or ethics committee must be obtained before conducting any research involving human or animal subjects.
• Declaration in ManuscriptEthical approval must be explicitly stated within the manuscript, including the name of the approving body and the approval reference number.
• Compliance with Ethical StandardsResearch must comply with all ethical standards governing human and animal rights. Any breaches are considered serious ethical violations and will result in rejection or retraction.

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. Publishing the same research in multiple journals is considered redundant publication and is prohibited.

• No Simultaneous SubmissionManuscripts currently under review at another journal must not be submitted to OIJSEM. Authors must confirm the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.
• No Redundant PublicationPublishing substantially similar research in multiple journals results in unnecessary repetition and misrepresentation of the research output, and is strictly prohibited.

If a published article is found to have significant errors, ethical breaches, or inaccuracies that affect its validity, the journal has the responsibility to correct or retract the paper.

• CorrectionsMinor errors that do not affect the overall validity of the findings will be addressed via a published correction notice linked to the original article.
• RetractionsArticles with major errors, fabricated data, or ethical violations will be retracted. Authors should work with the journal to facilitate this process promptly.
• Public AvailabilityAny retracted papers will be clearly marked as retracted and remain publicly available with a clear statement explaining the reason for retraction.