Ethics for Editors

The role of editors in the Journal of Novel Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (JNPR) extends beyond decision-making; it includes maintaining the highest ethical standards in handling manuscripts, guiding peer review, and ensuring fairness. Editors are custodians of trust between authors, reviewers, and readers. The following ethical principles are derived from COPE, ICMJE, and OASPA best practices.

Integrity and Impartiality

• Editors must base decisions on academic merit and relevance, not on personal bias, nationality, or institutional affiliation.
• Commercial interests should not override ethical publishing decisions.
• Editors must avoid favoritism and ensure all submissions are treated equally.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents. Editors must not disclose details to anyone other than reviewers, editorial staff, and publisher representatives as necessary. Unpublished information should not be used in editors’ personal research.

Conflict of Interest

• Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest, financial or personal, that could affect editorial judgment.
• Manuscripts where conflicts exist should be reassigned to another editor.
• Editors must avoid handling papers from their own students, collaborators, or institutions.

Fair Peer Review

Editors must ensure peer review is unbiased, double-blind, and completed by qualified experts. Reviewers must be free of conflicts of interest and selected for their expertise and impartiality.

Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct, plagiarism, or data falsification. Investigations should follow COPE guidelines, and outcomes may include rejection, correction, or retraction of affected works.

Corrections and Retractions

Editors must act promptly to correct errors in published work. This includes issuing errata, corrigenda, or retraction notices as appropriate, ensuring the scholarly record remains accurate.

Respectful Communication

Editors must maintain respectful and professional communication with authors and reviewers. Decision letters should provide clear and constructive feedback.

Diversity and Inclusion

Editors should promote diversity in reviewer selection and editorial board membership, supporting inclusive representation across geography, gender, and disciplines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if an editor has a conflict of interest with a submission?

The editor must recuse themselves, and the manuscript should be assigned to another independent editor.

Can editors reject without peer review?

Yes, editors may reject submissions that are out of scope or do not meet quality standards at the desk review stage.

How should editors handle misconduct allegations?

Editors should investigate thoroughly, consult COPE resources, and involve the editorial board and publisher as needed.

Can editors contact authors directly during peer review?

All communications should go through the official journal system to ensure transparency and documentation.