Editorial Policies

Introduction

The editorial policies of Heighpubs Otolaryngology and Rhinology (HOR) are designed to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in scientific publishing. Our editorial framework aligns with internationally recognized guidelines including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

Editorial Independence

HOR maintains strict editorial independence. Decisions to accept or reject manuscripts are based solely on academic merit, relevance, originality, and compliance with ethical guidelines. Commercial, political, or institutional influences do not affect editorial decisions.

Peer Review Policy

HOR operates a double-blind peer review system. All submissions undergo evaluation by at least two independent reviewers with subject expertise. The editorial board ensures fair, unbiased, and timely reviews. Reviewer identities are kept confidential, as are author details during the review process.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest—financial, institutional, or personal—that could influence the interpretation of findings or the editorial process. Conflicts are managed according to COPE guidelines.

Ethical Oversight

HOR enforces strict policies on ethics in human and animal research. Submissions must include statements of approval from recognized ethics committees, informed consent from participants, and compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and related frameworks.

Data Sharing and Transparency

Authors are strongly encouraged to make data underlying their research publicly available through repositories or supplementary files. Transparency in methods, data, and reporting is essential to reproducibility and credibility.

Plagiarism and Misconduct

HOR employs plagiarism detection software to screen all submissions. Manuscripts with plagiarized content, data manipulation, or image falsification are rejected and reported according to COPE flowcharts.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

HOR follows COPE guidance on post-publication issues.

• Corrections: Issued for minor errors that do not alter scientific integrity.
• Retractions: Published for unreliable or unethical content.
• Expressions of Concern: Used when investigations are ongoing.

Editorial Board Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
• Avoid conflicts of interest in manuscript handling.
• Ensure fair, unbiased peer review.
• Promote diversity in authorship and review.

Reviewer Responsibilities

• Provide constructive, timely, and unbiased evaluations.
• Maintain confidentiality of assigned manuscripts.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest.
• Report suspicions of misconduct to editors.

Author Responsibilities

• Ensure originality and proper citation of sources.
• Disclose all funding and conflicts of interest.
• Follow reporting standards (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE).
• Provide ethics approvals and patient consent where required.

Open Access Policy

HOR publishes all content under the CC BY 4.0 license. Authors retain copyright, granting HOR the right to publish and disseminate their work. This ensures free access and wide dissemination of research findings.

Advertising Policy

HOR maintains a clear separation between editorial and advertising content. Advertisements are not linked to editorial decisions and are clearly distinguished from scholarly content.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by contacting the editor-in-chief. Complaints regarding misconduct, editorial processes, or ethical breaches are addressed in accordance with COPE procedures.

Special Issues and Supplements

HOR publishes special issues on emerging themes. Guest editors are appointed with oversight from the editorial board, ensuring adherence to journal policies and ethical standards.

FAQs

What happens if plagiarism is detected?

The manuscript will be rejected, and in severe cases, the author’s institution may be informed.

Can authors appeal a rejection?

Yes, authors may submit a formal appeal. Appeals are reviewed by senior editors not involved in the original decision.

Are negative results accepted?

Yes, HOR values scientifically valid results regardless of outcome.

How are corrections handled?

Corrections are published promptly with a link to the original article.

Contact Information