Editors and reviewers of Qubahan Journal of Medical Sciences must uphold scientific integrity, fairness, confidentiality, independence, and transparency.

Responsibilities of editors

Editors must:

• Protect editorial independence
• Evaluate manuscripts fairly
• Select appropriately qualified reviewers
• Maintain confidentiality
• Identify and manage conflicts of interest
• Assess reviewer reports critically
• Protect research participants
• Investigate credible misconduct allegations
• Correct the scholarly record when necessary
• Prevent commercial considerations from influencing decisions
• Maintain transparent editorial documentation

Editors must recuse themselves when they have significant personal, academic, institutional, professional, or financial conflicts of interest.

Responsibilities of reviewers

Reviewers must:

• Accept assignments only within their expertise
• Provide timely and objective reviews
• Maintain confidentiality
• Declare conflicts of interest
• Provide evidence-based criticism
• Avoid abusive or discriminatory language
• Identify ethical or research-integrity concerns
• Protect unpublished ideas and data
• Avoid coercive citations
• Follow journal policies regarding artificial intelligence

Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief safeguards the scientific direction, editorial standards, integrity, independence, and academic reputation of the journal.

The Editor-in-Chief may reopen or review an editorial decision where substantial evidence of procedural error, inadequate peer review, ethical problems, or research-integrity concerns is identified.