The Asia Pacific Journal of Surgical Advances (APJSA) is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in all aspects of the publication process. This comprehensive set of guidelines is designed to protect the integrity of the journal and the research it publishes, ensuring that all stakeholders—authors, reviewers, and publishers—adhere to principles that promote honesty, transparency, and fairness.

For Authors

1. Authorship and Contribution

• Authorship Criteria: Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research, including the study’s conception, design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation. All authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission.
• Acknowledgment of Contributors: Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately in the manuscript.

2. Originality and Plagiarism

• Original Work: Authors must ensure that the submitted work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism and unacknowledged borrowing of text, ideas, or data, is strictly prohibited. The journal employs plagiarism detection tools, and manuscripts with a similarity index above 10% will require revision or rejection.
• Proper Citation: All sources of data, ideas, or text must be properly cited to acknowledge the original authors and sources. Authors should adhere strictly to the journal’s citation style.

3. Data Integrity and Transparency

• Data Accuracy: Authors are responsible for ensuring that all data presented in their research are accurate and free from manipulation. Significant errors found post-publication must be reported to the journal for correction.
• Data Sharing: Authors are encouraged to share their raw data where applicable, promoting transparency and enabling verification of results by other researchers.

4. Conflict of Interest

• Disclosure: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their results, including financial ties, personal relationships, or professional affiliations.

5. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

• Human and Animal Research: Research involving human participants or animals must have received ethical approval from a recognized committee. Evidence of this approval, including the reference number, must be provided in the manuscript.
• Informed Consent: Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all human participants, and their privacy rights are respected.

6. Corrections and Retractions

• Corrections: Authors are required to notify the journal if they discover significant errors in their published work. Corrections will be published as necessary to maintain the accuracy of the scientific record.
• Retractions: Serious ethical violations, such as plagiarism or data falsification, may result in retraction of the article. The reasons for retraction will be clearly documented and published.

For Reviewers

1. Confidentiality

• Confidential Review Process: Reviewers must treat the manuscripts they review as confidential documents. They must not disclose or discuss the content with others, except as authorized by the journal.

2. Impartiality and Objectivity

• Objective Evaluation: Reviewers must provide an unbiased and constructive assessment of the manuscript, focusing on its scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.
• Disclosure of Conflicts: Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as financial ties or personal relationships with the authors, and recuse themselves if necessary.

3. Timeliness

• Prompt Review: Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within the agreed timeframe. If unable to do so, they should inform the journal promptly to avoid delays in the publication process.

4. Ethical Considerations

• Identification of Ethical Issues: Reviewers should alert the editors to any ethical concerns they identify, such as potential plagiarism, unethical research practices, or conflicts of interest within the manuscript.

For Publishers

1. Support for Editorial Integrity

• Editorial Freedom: The publisher of APJSA fully supports the editorial independence of the journal. Editorial decisions are made based solely on the manuscript’s scientific merit, relevance, and adherence to ethical guidelines, free from external influence, including commercial interests.
• Resource Allocation: The publisher provides the necessary resources, tools, and infrastructure to enable the editorial team to carry out its duties effectively, ensuring that all editorial decisions are grounded in academic integrity.

2. Maintaining Ethical Standards

• Commitment to Ethics: The publisher is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in all aspects of journal operations, from the submission process to post-publication activities. This includes upholding policies on plagiarism detection, conflict of interest disclosures, and the protection of participant privacy.
• Ethical Oversight: The publisher ensures that the journal adheres to established ethical guidelines, including those set by international bodies such as COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), and supports the editorial team in addressing any ethical issues that arise.

3. Confidentiality and Data Security

• Data Protection: The publisher is responsible for ensuring the confidentiality and security of all data related to the journal’s operations. This includes safeguarding the personal information of authors, reviewers, and editors, as well as the secure handling of manuscripts and peer review documents.
• Confidentiality Assurance: The publisher commits to maintaining the confidentiality of the peer review process, ensuring that all communications and materials are handled in a secure and confidential manner, in line with data protection regulations.

4. Post-Publication Responsibilities

• Corrections and Retractions: The publisher supports the editorial team in issuing corrections, retractions, or statements of concern when necessary to maintain the integrity of the academic record. The publisher ensures that these actions are carried out transparently and promptly.
• Access and Archiving: The publisher ensures that published articles are accessible to the academic community and the public, including maintaining digital archives to preserve the scholarly record. The publisher also provides mechanisms for long-term digital preservation to safeguard the content against data loss.
• Handling Complaints: The publisher is involved in the ethical handling of complaints related to published content. This includes providing clear procedures for lodging complaints and ensuring that all complaints are investigated thoroughly, with appropriate action taken to address any issues.