Publication Policies

 

The Insights - Journal of Medical and Dental Research (IJMDR) upholds the highest standards in scholarly publishing by ensuring transparency, accessibility, and adherence to ethical guidelines. Below are the core policies governing the journal's publication process.

Publication Frequency

Effective January 2025, IJMDR follows a biannual publication schedule, ensuring timely dissemination of high-quality research in medical and dental sciences. This frequency provides researchers with consistent opportunities to publish and engage with the latest developments in their fields.

Open Access Commitment

As an open-access journal, IJMDR ensures that all published articles are freely available under the Creative Commons Attribution License. This model allows unrestricted sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided proper credit is given to the original work. Our commitment to open access fosters global collaboration and knowledge exchange in medical and dental research.

Editorial & Peer Review Process

Double-Blind Peer Review

To maintain academic rigor and impartiality, IJMDR employs a double-blind peer review system, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous. This process includes:

  • Initial Screening: Manuscripts undergo preliminary checks for relevance, originality, and adherence to journal guidelines.
  • Peer Review: Selected submissions are evaluated by two or more experts in the relevant field.
  • Revision & Decision: Authors may be required to revise their manuscripts before final acceptance. The entire review process typically concludes within 15-20 days of submission.

Publication Ethics & Integrity

Authorship & Contributions

In accordance with ICMJE guidelines, IJMDR defines authorship based on:

  • Significant contribution to study design, data analysis, or manuscript writing.
  • Approval of the final version and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Any minor contributions should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring compliance with these authorship criteria.

Ethical Standards & Research Conduct

IJMDR enforces strict ethical policies, requiring:

  • Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research.
  • Compliance with Human & Animal Research Ethics: Studies involving human subjects must have ethical approval and informed consent, aligning with the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant animal welfare regulations.
  • Plagiarism Prevention: The journal employs TURNITIN to detect plagiarism, with a similarity threshold of less than 20%. Any detected cases may result in retraction or a ban on future submissions.

Informed Consent & Data Protection

Researchers must obtain informed consent from participants (or legal guardians) before including their data or images in research publications.

  • Submission Requirements: Authors must confirm ethical approvals and informed consent compliance at the time of submission.
  • Privacy & Confidentiality: Data protection laws must be followed to safeguard participants’ personal information.

Archiving & Repository Policy

To ensure the long-term preservation of published research, IJMDR utilizes LOCKSS and other digital archiving networks.

  • DOI Assignment: Each article receives a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for permanent access and easy citation.
  • Self-Archiving Policy: Authors are permitted to deposit the following article versions in institutional repositories:
    • Preprint version
    • Accepted manuscript
    • Published version (Version of Record)

CrossMark Policy & Article Updates

IJMDR is committed to maintaining the integrity of published research.

  • Each published article receives a CrossMark identifier, ensuring access to the latest updates.
  • Corrections, retractions, or updates to articles are transparently documented and linked to the original work.

Advertisement & Sponsorship Policy

While IJMDR welcomes advertisements relevant to medical and dental sciences, all advertisements are subject to strict approval by the journal’s management.

  • Advertisements must be clearly distinguished from editorial content.
  • Products, especially pharmaceuticals, must comply with regulatory guidelines.
  • The journal reserves the right to reject or remove any advertisement that does not align with its academic and ethical standards.

Appeals & Complaints Handling

IJMDR ensures fair handling of disputes and complaints.

  • Appeals: Authors may appeal editorial decisions, and an Appeals Committee will review the case.
  • Complaints: Any concerns regarding misconduct, ethical breaches, or conflicts of interest should be reported to the Chief Editor for formal investigation.

Manuscript Withdrawal Policy

Authors may withdraw their submissions before publication, but post-acceptance withdrawals will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

Author Fees & Waiver Policy

While IJMDR may impose article processing charges, waivers or discounts are available upon request. Waiver eligibility is assessed based on:

  • Financial hardship of the author(s).
  • Merit of the submitted work and its contribution to the field.

Diversity & Inclusion Commitment

IJMDR actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in scholarly publishing.

  • We encourage submissions from underrepresented researchers.
  • Our editorial and review processes are inclusive and unbiased.
  • We seek to publish research that addresses healthcare disparities and diverse patient populations.

Data Sharing & Transparency

To enhance research reproducibility, IJMDR encourages authors to:

  • Deposit datasets in public repositories when possible.
  • Provide metadata and access conditions for their research data.
  • Justify restrictions if data sharing is not feasible due to privacy or ethical concerns.

Accessibility & User Experience

We are committed to making our content accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

  • Web accessibility: Our digital content is compatible with screen readers and assistive technologies.
  • Alt text for images and captions for multimedia content are included.
  • We welcome feedback on improving accessibility for all users.

Environmental Responsibility

In alignment with sustainable publishing practices, IJMDR:

  • Primarily operates in digital formats to reduce paper waste.
  • Encourages remote collaboration to minimize travel-related carbon footprints.
  • Supports research that promotes environmentally sustainable practices in healthcare.

These policies ensure the integrity, accessibility, and inclusivity of IJMDR, fostering a transparent and ethical research environment.