Policies

Explore the comprehensive policies of our journal, which uphold the highest standards of ethical publishing, transparency, and accessibility. These policies cover publication frequency, open access, copyright, peer review, data sharing, and more.

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PUBLICATION POLICIES

JHWCR operates on a foundation of rigorous editorial policies that prioritize transparency, integrity, and scholarly excellence. These policies are designed to guide authors, reviewers, and editors in ensuring the quality and reliability of published content. Key elements include:

Commitment to Ethical Publishing: JHWCR upholds the highest ethical standards in all stages of the publishing process, ensuring fairness, impartiality, and compliance with globally recognized principles of scholarly publishing.
Transparency in Processes: Authors, reviewers, and editors are informed about all procedures, from submission and review to publication and archiving.
Commitment to Quality: Only manuscripts that meet the journal’s stringent requirements for originality, scientific rigor, and relevance are considered for publication.
Reproducibility and Open Science: The journal encourages transparency in research by promoting data sharing, clear methodological reporting, and reproducibility of findings.

The policies ensure the trustworthiness of the journal’s publications and its contributions to the global research community.

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PUBLICATION FREQUENCY

JHWCR is published biannually, with issues released in January and July. This publication schedule provides authors with consistent opportunities to disseminate their research while ensuring the timely review and production of high-quality manuscripts.

Flexible Submission Windows: JHWCR operates on a rolling submission basis, allowing authors to submit manuscripts at any time.
Online First: Accepted articles are published online ahead of the official issue release to accelerate the dissemination of research findings.
Expanded Opportunities: The journal's biannual frequency supports the publication of innovative and diverse research from multiple disciplines, fostering academic dialogue and collaboration across fields.
Quality Over Quantity: The journal prioritizes publishing fewer, high-impact articles rather than an excessive volume, maintaining focus on the significance and rigor of each contribution.

This approach ensures that the journal aligns with global best practices while meeting the needs of its contributors and readers.

OPEN ACCESS POLICY AND COPYRIGHT POLICY

JHWCR is committed to the principles of open access, ensuring that all research is freely accessible to the global scientific community and the public without barriers. This approach aligns with the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) and is recognized by major indexing bodies, including DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals), COPE, and ICMJE.

Open Access Principles

Free Accessibility:

All articles are available online immediately upon publication, with no embargo period.
Readers can freely access, download, copy, distribute, and use published materials without cost.

Enhanced Discoverability:

Open access ensures wider dissemination and citation of research, amplifying its impact and visibility globally.

Alignment with Global Standards:

JHWCR’s open-access policy complies with DOAJ and OpenAIRE guidelines, ensuring alignment with global indexing services.

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Creative Commons Licensing

All published content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This licensing policy:

Empowers Authors:

Authors retain the copyright to their work while granting users permission to share and adapt the content.

Encourages Sharing and Innovation:

Content can be used for educational, research, and other lawful purposes, provided proper attribution is given.

Prevents Misuse:

Adaptations must acknowledge the original authors, and any derivatives must also adhere to CC BY terms.

Copyright Policy

Author Retention of Rights:

Authors retain copyright to their manuscripts.
The journal receives a non-exclusive license to publish the work, ensuring the authors can reuse their content freely for non-commercial purposes (e.g., in books or lectures).

Usage Rights:

Users are permitted to use the content for lawful purposes, including:

Sharing: Copying and redistributing the material in any format.
Adapting: Remixing, transforming, and building upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Proper Attribution: Users must credit the original authors and link to the license.

Prohibited Activities:

Unauthorized commercial use of the journal’s content.
Altering content in a manner that misrepresents the original findings or intent.

Author Responsibilities:

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of third parties.
Authors must secure permissions for any reused content (e.g., figures, tables) included in their work.

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Benefits of the Policy

Global Reach:

By removing paywalls, the journal facilitates access to research for readers in resource-limited settings.

Equity in Publishing:

Open access reduces barriers for readers and promotes inclusivity in academic discourse.

Sustainability:

Licensing under CC BY 4.0 ensures that published research remains accessible and relevant for future generations.

Monitoring and Compliance

Ethical Oversight:

The journal adheres to ethical publishing practices as outlined by COPE, ICMJE, and WAME (World Association of Medical Editors).
Plagiarism detection tools are employed to ensure originality and compliance with copyright standards.

Archiving and Preservation:

Articles are preserved using LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) and PKP Private Network, ensuring long-term accessibility.

Updates and Corrections:

If copyright or open-access issues arise post-publication, the journal will follow industry-standard correction and retraction protocols.

Author Guidelines on Open Access and Copyright

Authors are encouraged to share their published work on institutional repositories, personal websites, and scholarly networks to maximize its reach and impact.
Authors must disclose funding sources and confirm compliance with funders’ open-access mandates.

By implementing this open access and copyright policy, the journal ensures a sustainable and ethical framework for the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

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ARCHIVING STRATEGY

JHWCR is committed to the long-term preservation and accessibility of all its published content. The archiving strategy ensures that scholarly articles remain available for future generations, even in the event of unforeseen technological failures or discontinuation of services.

Key Components of the Archiving Strategy:

Digital Preservation: All articles are preserved through a distributed digital preservation system, ensuring redundancy and safeguarding against data loss.

PKP Private LOCKSS Network: JHWCR uses the PKP (Public Knowledge Project) LOCKSS system, which provides a decentralized archiving approach. Articles are preserved across participating libraries to maintain accessibility and facilitate content restoration when necessary.
Integration with Persistent Identifiers: All articles are assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), ensuring a permanent, citable link to the content. DOIs also enhance discoverability through indexing platforms and search engines.

Collaboration with Preservation Services: Future integration with additional preservation services like CLOCKSS, Portico, or institutional archives is under review to further enhance the reliability and sustainability of archiving efforts.
Local and National Depositories: The journal ensures compliance with the requirements of national libraries and research organizations for the archiving of scholarly content.
Article Metadata: Comprehensive metadata is associated with every article, ensuring it can be indexed and retrieved across multiple databases and library systems.

By adhering to these robust preservation practices, the journal safeguards its intellectual contributions, ensuring their availability to researchers and institutions worldwide, both now and in the future.

CROSSMARK POLICY STATEMENT

To ensure transparency, integrity, and consistency in its scholarly publications, the journal implements a CrossMark Policy. This system provides readers with a trusted, authoritative source for the most current version of an article and facilitates tracking any updates or corrections made post-publication.

Key Elements of the CrossMark Policy:

Version Control:

Each article is published with a CrossMark badge, signaling the journal's commitment to maintaining a current and verified record.
Readers can access the article’s revision history, including updates, corrections, and retractions, ensuring confidence in the reliability of the content.

DOI Integration:

All articles are assigned a unique DOI that links to the current version and its associated metadata. This DOI guarantees permanent and reliable access, supporting seamless citation and reference linking.

Transparency and Updates:

Corrections: Minor or significant errors identified post-publication will be corrected transparently, with a detailed note explaining the changes.
Retractions: If a publication is found to be invalid or unethical, a retraction notice will be issued in accordance with global standards, with clear documentation outlining the reasons.
Addenda and Clarifications: Additional information or supplementary corrections will be published as linked updates to the original article.

Reader Notifications:

Updates, corrections, or retractions are prominently displayed, ensuring that readers and users of the research are made aware of the changes in real-time.

Benefits of the CrossMark Policy:

Maintains the integrity of the academic record by ensuring articles are up-to-date and corrections are transparently documented.
Enhances trust and reliability by enabling readers to verify the authenticity and current status of the content.
Aligns the journal with global best practices for scholarly publishing and fosters credibility within the academic community.

By implementing the CrossMark Policy, the journal ensures that it maintains the highest standards of transparency, accuracy, and ethical responsibility in scholarly communication.

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PUBLICATION ETHICS AND POLICY GUIDELINES

The journal is steadfast in its commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. These policies ensure the credibility of published research, safeguard academic integrity, and foster trust among authors, reviewers, editors, and readers.

Key Ethical Principles:

Integrity and Transparency:

All research must adhere to the highest standards of integrity, including honest reporting of data, methods, and findings.
Authors must disclose all relevant information, including funding sources and potential conflicts of interest.

Originality and Avoidance of Misconduct:

Submissions must be original works that have not been published elsewhere or are under consideration by another journal.
Acts of academic misconduct, such as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or citation manipulation, are strictly prohibited and will result in rejection or retraction.

Collaboration and Accountability:

All authors must contribute substantially to the work and take responsibility for the accuracy of their contributions.
Any changes in authorship post-submission must be approved by all authors and the editorial team.

Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders:

Authors:

Ensure their research complies with ethical guidelines, including proper citation of sources and appropriate acknowledgments.
Obtain institutional review board (IRB) approval for studies involving human participants or animals and adhere to relevant legal and ethical frameworks.

Reviewers:

Conduct impartial, confidential reviews and disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their judgment.
Provide constructive feedback that upholds the journal's commitment to scholarly rigor.

Editors:

Maintain impartiality, ensuring that all editorial decisions are based solely on the scientific merit of the submission.
Address allegations of misconduct swiftly and in accordance with international guidelines, implementing corrective actions where necessary.

Addressing Misconduct:

Any suspected misconduct, whether by authors, reviewers, or editors, will be investigated using a fair and transparent process.
If misconduct is confirmed, actions may include rejection, retraction, or a ban on future submissions, depending on the severity of the offense.

These guidelines are designed to align the journal with global best practices, ensuring a trustworthy and ethical scholarly publishing environment.

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INFORMED CONSENT POLICY

JHWCR places paramount importance on ethical research practices, particularly in studies involving human participants. Informed consent is a critical component of ethical research, ensuring the rights, privacy, and autonomy of individuals are respected.

Requirements for Studies Involving Human Participants:

Informed Consent:

Authors must obtain voluntary and informed consent from all participants, or their legal guardians in the case of minors or individuals unable to provide consent themselves.
Consent must cover both participation in the research and publication of data, including images or identifiable information, if applicable.

Documentation of Consent:

A statement confirming that informed consent was obtained must be included in the manuscript.
Authors may be required to provide evidence of consent upon request by the editorial team.

Privacy and Anonymity:

Personal data must be anonymized to the extent possible to protect participants’ privacy. Identifiable information should only be included when absolutely necessary and with explicit consent.

Ethical Oversight:

Research involving human participants must comply with applicable national and international guidelines, including adherence to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Authors must provide details of the ethical oversight process, including:

Name and location of the ethics review board or institutional review committee.
Reference or approval number issued by the committee.

Animal Research:

For studies involving animals:

Authors must provide a statement confirming adherence to established ethical guidelines, including the humane treatment of animals and minimization of harm.
Institutional or national ethical approval for animal experiments must be documented.

Exceptions:

For studies that do not involve human or animal participants, authors must include a statement in the manuscript declaring that ethical approval and informed consent are "Not Applicable."

Post-Publication Ethics:

If issues related to informed consent or ethics approval arise post-publication, the journal will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

The journal’s commitment to informed consent ensures the ethical integrity of published research, protecting participants' rights and fostering trust within the academic community.

PLAGIARISM POLICY

JHWCR upholds a strict zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism and related unethical practices, ensuring that all published work maintains the highest standards of originality and scholarly integrity.

Definition of Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is defined as the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving proper credit. This includes:

Direct Plagiarism: Copying verbatim text without proper attribution.
Self-Plagiarism: Reusing substantial parts of one’s own previously published work without disclosure or citation.
Mosaic Plagiarism: Paraphrasing another’s work without proper acknowledgment.
Unattributed Ideas: Failing to credit the source of an idea or data set.

Detection and Prevention:

Screening Tools: All submissions are screened using advanced plagiarism detection software (e.g., TURNITIN) to identify textual similarities.
Similarity Threshold: Submissions exceeding a similarity index of 20% will be flagged for review. Authors may be asked to revise and resubmit or face rejection, depending on the severity.
Editorial Oversight: The editorial team conducts a thorough review to distinguish legitimate overlaps (e.g., common phrases or citations) from unethical duplication.

Consequences of Plagiarism:

Pre-Publication:

Minor overlaps: Authors will be asked to revise and resubmit their manuscript with proper attribution.
Major overlaps or confirmed plagiarism: Manuscripts will be rejected outright, and the authors may face a ban on future submissions.

Post-Publication:

Published articles found to contain plagiarism will be retracted, with a retraction notice issued to inform readers and indexing platforms.
A detailed investigation will be conducted, and institutions or funders may be notified if necessary.

Encouraging Ethical Writing:

Authors are encouraged to paraphrase properly, provide accurate citations, and attribute ideas and data responsibly.
Guidelines on ethical writing and citation practices are made available to all authors during submission.

By rigorously enforcing this policy, the journal fosters a culture of academic honesty and trust, contributing to the credibility of the global research community.

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REPOSITORY POLICY

JHWCR supports open science and the global accessibility of research, encouraging authors to deposit their work in institutional or subject-specific repositories. This policy ensures the wide dissemination of knowledge and aligns with the principles of open access and long-term preservation.

Author Rights:

Version Archiving: Authors are allowed to archive any version of their manuscript, including:

Pre-print: The original submitted manuscript before peer review.
Accepted Version: The peer-reviewed and accepted manuscript without journal formatting.
Published Version: The final, formatted version as it appears in the journal.

No Embargo Period: The journal imposes no embargo on self-archiving, allowing authors to deposit their work immediately upon acceptance or publication.

Repository Options:

Authors may deposit their work in:

Institutional Repositories: University or organization-affiliated repositories.
Subject-Specific Repositories: Platforms relevant to the research field, such as PubMed Central, Europe PMC, or other discipline-specific databases.
General Repositories: Open repositories like Zenodo, ResearchGate, or OSF.

Metadata and Licensing:

Metadata Requirements: Deposited works must include full citation details and a link to the published article via its DOI to ensure proper attribution.
Creative Commons License: Deposited works must adhere to the journal's licensing terms under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing unrestricted use, sharing, and adaptation with proper credit.

Integration with Indexing Services:

The journal collaborates with indexing services to enhance the discoverability and impact of archived articles. These include integrations with:

Digital repositories such as Sherpa/Romeo.
Global knowledge infrastructure networks.

This repository policy reflects the journal’s dedication to promoting transparency, accessibility, and the long-term preservation of scholarly research.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY

JHWCR recognizes the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and publishing. To uphold ethical standards and maintain the integrity of scholarly work, this policy provides guidelines for authors, reviewers, and editors regarding the ethical use of AI tools in manuscript preparation, review, and publication processes. The policy is informed by globally accepted best practices and ensures a balance between innovation and ethical responsibility.

For Authors

Authors may use AI tools during the research and manuscript preparation process, provided such usage aligns with ethical and transparency standards.

Acceptable Uses of AI:

Language Refinement: AI tools (e.g., Grammarly, ChatGPT) may be used for improving grammar, tone, and readability. Authors must ensure that these refinements do not alter the original scientific meaning.
Reference Management: AI-based reference managers (e.g., EndNote, Zotero) are permitted for organizing citations and formatting reference lists.
Data Analysis: AI tools may be used for statistical analysis, modeling, or visualizations, provided the methodology is clearly described and validated.

Unacceptable Uses of AI:

Content Generation: The use of AI to write substantive sections of the manuscript (e.g., abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion) without human oversight or authorship is not permitted.
Undisclosed AI Contributions: Authors must explicitly disclose any use of AI in the preparation of their manuscript in the methods or acknowledgment section. Failure to disclose AI involvement may result in rejection or retraction.
Fabrication of Data or Results: The use of AI to generate synthetic data or results without proper validation and disclosure is strictly prohibited.

Disclosure Statement: Authors must include a statement in their manuscript, specifying the nature and extent of AI usage. For example:

"This manuscript has been reviewed for grammar and tone using [AI Tool]."
"AI-based statistical software [Tool Name] was used for data modeling and analysis."

For Reviewers

Reviewers are encouraged to use AI tools ethically to enhance the review process while ensuring that their evaluations remain objective and human-driven.

Acceptable Uses of AI:

Language and Grammar Checks: Reviewers may use AI to verify language clarity and suggest improvements to the tone or readability of the manuscript.
Fact-Checking: AI tools may assist in verifying references, citations, and factual accuracy, provided they are used as supplementary tools.
Plagiarism Detection: Reviewers can leverage AI-powered plagiarism detection tools to identify potential ethical issues, provided these tools are employed responsibly and results are interpreted by the reviewer.

Unacceptable Uses of AI:

Automated Reviews: Delegating the review process entirely to AI is not acceptable. The reviewer must provide their own critical analysis and feedback.
Breach of Confidentiality: Reviewers must not input manuscript text into AI tools that are cloud-based or store data externally, as this violates confidentiality agreements.

Disclosure Statement: Reviewers must disclose if they have used AI tools in their review, specifying the purpose (e.g., grammar checks, plagiarism detection).

Editorial Oversight

The editorial team ensures that AI tools are used ethically and transparently throughout the publishing process. Editors must:

Monitor AI disclosures by authors and reviewers for compliance with the journal’s policy.
Reject manuscripts that rely on unethical AI usage, such as undisclosed content generation or fabricated data.
Use plagiarism detection and language improvement AI tools responsibly to maintain editorial integrity.

Encouraging Innovation Within Ethical Boundaries

The journal supports the responsible integration of AI into research and publishing, provided it enhances the quality and integrity of scholarly work. Acceptable uses of AI include:

Assisting in statistical analysis and data visualization.
Refining the language and readability of manuscripts while preserving the scientific accuracy and tone.
Streamlining administrative tasks, such as reference formatting and citation tracking.

Key Takeaways:

AI is a valuable tool for enhancing the efficiency and quality of research but must be used ethically and transparently.
Human oversight and accountability remain central to the research, review, and publication process.
Disclosure of AI usage fosters trust and ensures compliance with global standards.

This policy ensures that AI enhances, rather than undermines, the scholarly publishing process, maintaining a balance between innovation and ethical responsibility.

REPOSITORY POLICY

The journal is committed to fostering openness, accessibility, and the long-term preservation of scholarly work. The repository policy ensures that authors have the freedom to disseminate their research broadly while maintaining compliance with international standards for academic publishing and archiving.

Author Rights

Authors retain the right to deposit versions of their work in repositories of their choice, in alignment with open-access principles. This supports global knowledge-sharing and ensures the discoverability and accessibility of research.

Allowed Versions for Deposit:

Preprint Version: The original manuscript submitted to the journal prior to peer review.
Accepted Manuscript: The peer-reviewed version of the manuscript without the journal’s formatting and final typesetting.
Published Version: The final formatted article as it appears in the journal, provided proper credit is given and licensing terms are followed.

No Embargo Period: Authors are allowed to deposit their work immediately upon acceptance or publication. The journal imposes no embargo, enabling unrestricted sharing of research findings.

Approved Repository Platforms

Authors may deposit their articles in the following types of repositories:

Institutional Repositories: Repositories maintained by universities or research institutions (e.g., Harvard Dataverse, Oxford Research Archive).
Subject-Specific Repositories: Platforms that focus on specific disciplines, such as:

PubMed Central (for biomedical sciences)
Europe PMC (for health-related studies)

General Repositories: Open-access platforms like Zenodo, ResearchGate, OSF, or Figshare.
National and Regional Repositories: Repositories adhering to local research dissemination policies, such as CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) or others specific to the region.
Journal’s Repository: Articles are automatically deposited in the journal’s digital repository for long-term access.

Metadata Requirements

To ensure proper attribution and discoverability, deposited versions of articles must include:

Citation Information: Full citation details of the published article, including title, authors, journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): The unique DOI assigned to the article must be included for accurate linking to the final published version.
Licensing Information: A clear statement of the licensing terms under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Example statement for repositories: “This article was published in the Journal of Health, Wellness, and Community Research. DOI: [insert DOI]. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).”

Licensing and Access

All articles published by the journal are available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits:

Unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of the work in any medium.
Adaptation of the content for lawful purposes, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors and the journal.

Commitment to Long-Term Preservation

JHWCR actively collaborates with recognized preservation services to ensure the longevity of its content:

PKP Private LOCKSS Network: The journal employs LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) to create a decentralized archive across libraries, ensuring redundancy and preservation.
Integration with Persistent Identifiers: The use of DOIs guarantees that archived content remains accessible indefinitely.
Future Collaborations: The journal is exploring partnerships with CLOCKSS and Portico for additional preservation layers.

Encouraging Open Science

By enabling unrestricted repository use, the journal supports global knowledge sharing, enhances research impact, and promotes the principles of open science.

This repository policy reflects the journal’s dedication to empowering authors and readers while ensuring compliance with international standards and fostering equitable access to scientific knowledge.

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PRIVACY STATEMENT

JHWCR prioritizes the protection of personal data and the privacy of all stakeholders, including authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. This Privacy Statement outlines how personal information is collected, used, and safeguarded, in compliance with global standards for data protection and scholarly publishing ethics.

Collection and Use of Personal Information

JHWCR collects and uses personal data solely for purposes related to the submission, review, publication, and dissemination of scholarly work. The types of personal information collected include:

Authors: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, and other relevant contact details.
Reviewers: Name, email address, academic expertise, and institutional affiliation.
Readers: Minimal information required for optional account creation or subscription to journal updates (e.g., name and email address).

This information is used for:

Correspondence regarding submissions, reviews, and publication processes.
Verification of authorship, reviewer identity, and institutional affiliations.
Communication about journal updates, announcements, or related activities (only with prior consent).

Confidentiality

Personal information is treated as confidential and is not shared with third parties, except where required by law or as explicitly stated (e.g., indexing services for metadata sharing).
Reviewer identities are kept confidential during the double-blind peer review process unless explicitly agreed upon by both parties.

Data Protection Measures

JHWCR employs robust technical and organizational measures to safeguard personal data:

Secure Systems: All data is stored on encrypted servers with restricted access to authorized personnel.
Limited Access: Access to personal information is restricted to essential staff directly involved in the editorial or publishing process.
Regular Monitoring: The journal periodically reviews and updates its data protection protocols to address emerging security threats.

Sharing of Personal Information

JHWCR does not share personal data with third parties unless:

Required by law or legal processes.
Necessary for the indexing or dissemination of articles (e.g., providing metadata to CrossRef or indexing platforms like PubMed, Scopus, or DOAJ).
Explicit consent is provided by the individual concerned.

Data Retention Policy

Personal data is retained for the duration necessary to fulfill publishing and archival responsibilities.
Data associated with published works (e.g., author and reviewer metadata) is preserved as part of the permanent scholarly record.
Unnecessary or outdated personal information is securely deleted after the editorial process concludes.

User Rights

JHWCR acknowledges the rights of all individuals under global data protection frameworks, including:

Right to Access: Stakeholders may request a copy of the personal data stored by the journal.
Right to Correction: Authors, reviewers, or readers can request corrections to any inaccuracies in their personal data.
Right to Deletion: Individuals may request the deletion of their personal data, subject to legal or ethical publishing obligations.
Right to Object: Stakeholders may opt out of receiving journal updates or promotional materials by contacting the editorial office.

Cookies and Analytics

The journal’s website uses cookies and analytics tools to enhance user experience:

Cookies: Used to store user preferences and provide seamless navigation.
Analytics: Aggregated data is collected to monitor website performance and user engagement. No personally identifiable information is stored or shared.

Transparency and Accountability

The journal is committed to:

Providing clear and transparent information on how personal data is collected, used, and protected.
Addressing privacy-related concerns or complaints promptly. Stakeholders may contact the editorial office for clarification or resolution.

Privacy Statement Updates

This Privacy Statement is reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to comply with evolving legal and ethical standards. Changes to the policy will be communicated via the journal’s website.

POLICY DOCUMENTS

JHWCR maintains comprehensive policy documents that outline its commitment to transparency, ethical publishing, and adherence to international best practices. These documents serve as a resource for authors, reviewers, editors, and readers, providing clear guidance on the journal’s standards and processes.

Purpose of Policy Documents

To ensure that all stakeholders understand the journal’s expectations, requirements, and procedures.
To promote transparency and accountability in all aspects of the publishing process.
To provide clear protocols for handling issues such as ethics violations, disputes, and corrections.

List of Key Policy Documents

Publication Ethics and Guidelines:

Covers ethical standards for authors, reviewers, and editors.
Addresses issues such as plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and research misconduct.
Includes protocols for handling corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.

Authorship and Contributor Criteria:

Details the responsibilities and qualifications for authorship.
Provides guidance on how contributions should be acknowledged.

Peer Review Policy:

Explains the journal’s double-blind peer review process.
Includes reviewer responsibilities and ethical standards.

Data Sharing and Open Science Policy:

Encourages transparency and reproducibility by outlining requirements for data availability.
Includes protocols for sharing datasets and citing data.

Archiving and Preservation Policy:

Describes the measures taken to ensure the long-term availability of published content.
Covers digital preservation systems such as LOCKSS and DOI integration.

Privacy Statement:

Explains how personal data is collected, used, and protected.
Includes data retention policies and user rights.

Informed Consent and Ethical Research Practices:

Details the requirements for ethical research involving human and animal subjects.
Includes informed consent, privacy, and institutional approval guidelines.

Access to Policy Documents

All policy documents are freely available on the journal’s website, ensuring transparency and accessibility for stakeholders.
Policies are organized in a clear and navigable format, allowing users to easily locate relevant information.

Regular Updates

Policy documents are reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in international standards and best practices.
Stakeholders are notified of significant updates via the journal’s website and newsletters.

Commitment to Transparency

JHWCR’s policy documents are designed to provide clarity and build trust among all stakeholders. By adhering to these policies, the journal ensures the integrity of its publishing process and the credibility of its scholarly contributions.

ADVERTISEMENT POLICY

JHWCR maintains a transparent and ethical approach to advertisements, ensuring that they align with the journal’s mission and values while preserving editorial independence. This policy outlines the principles, standards, and procedures for managing advertisements in the journal.

Purpose of Advertisement Policy

To generate revenue that supports the journal’s open-access publishing model.
To provide readers with relevant and valuable information aligned with the journal’s scope and audience.
To ensure that advertisements do not compromise the integrity of the journal’s content or influence editorial decisions.

Key Principles

Relevance:

Advertisements must be relevant to the journal’s audience, including researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.
Examples of acceptable advertisements include those related to academic conferences, research tools, health products, or educational resources.

Editorial Independence:

Advertisements are clearly distinguished from editorial content.
Editorial decisions, including the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, are not influenced by advertisements or advertisers.

Transparency:

The journal clearly identifies all advertisements as such to avoid confusion with peer-reviewed content.
Advertisers are required to disclose any affiliations or potential conflicts of interest.

Ethical Standards:

Advertisements must comply with legal, ethical, and industry standards.
The journal prohibits advertisements that promote misleading, false, or unethical claims.

Advertisement Submission and Approval

Advertisers must submit proposed advertisements to the journal’s editorial office for review.
Submissions are evaluated based on:

Relevance to the journal’s audience.
Compliance with ethical and legal standards.
Alignment with the journal’s mission and values.

The editorial team reserves the right to reject or request modifications to advertisements that do not meet these criteria.

Placement and Design

Advertisements are placed in designated sections of the journal’s website or publication, ensuring they do not disrupt the reading experience.
The journal ensures that advertisements are visually distinct from editorial content through clear labeling and design.

Revenue Use

Revenue generated from advertisements is reinvested in the journal’s operations, including:

Maintaining its open-access model.
Enhancing the quality and visibility of published content.
Supporting editorial processes and technological advancements.

Right to Decline or Remove

The journal reserves the right to:

Decline advertisements that do not meet its ethical or quality standards.
Remove previously approved advertisements if they are found to conflict with the journal’s values or audience expectations.

Grievances and Complaints

Stakeholders may raise concerns about advertisements by contacting the journal’s editorial office.
Complaints are reviewed by a dedicated committee to ensure fair and prompt resolution.

APPEALS AND COMPLAINTS PROCESSES

JHWCR provides a transparent, fair, and structured process for handling appeals and complaints. This policy ensures that all concerns raised by authors, reviewers, readers, or other stakeholders are addressed promptly and impartially, fostering trust and accountability.

Scope of Appeals and Complaints

Appeals:

Decisions regarding manuscript rejection or revision.
Delays in the review or publication process.
Disputes related to authorship or editorial decisions.

Complaints:

Allegations of misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification).
Breaches of ethical standards during the submission, review, or publication process.
Concerns regarding conflicts of interest, confidentiality, or peer-review practices.
Issues related to journal policies, advertisements, or website content.

Appeals Process

Grounds for Appeal:

Appeals may be submitted if the author believes the editorial decision was unfair, biased, or based on incomplete information.
Appeals must be substantiated with evidence or valid arguments.

Submission of Appeals:

Appeals should be submitted via email to the Chief Editor or through the journal’s submission portal.
The appeal must include:

Manuscript ID.
Detailed reasons for the appeal.
Any supporting evidence or documentation.

Review of Appeals:

Appeals are reviewed by an independent Appeals Committee comprising senior editors and subject-matter experts not involved in the original decision.
The committee evaluates:

The fairness and rigor of the original review process.
The validity of the arguments presented in the appeal.

Additional external reviewers may be consulted if necessary.

Decision and Communication:

The final decision on the appeal is communicated to the author within 4–6 weeks of submission.
Decisions made by the Appeals Committee are final and binding.

Complaints Process

Submission of Complaints:

Complaints must be submitted in writing to the journal’s editorial office or Chief Editor.
The complaint should include:

A clear description of the issue.
Relevant evidence or documentation.
Contact information of the complainant for follow-up communication.

Investigation of Complaints:

Complaints are reviewed by a dedicated Complaints Committee.
The committee investigates the issue thoroughly, ensuring:

Confidentiality of all parties involved.
Impartiality in assessing the facts and evidence.

External experts may be consulted for complex or specialized issues.

Resolution:

Resolutions are based on the findings of the investigation and may include:

Corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern for published articles.
Formal apologies or acknowledgments if warranted.
Adjustments to journal policies or practices to prevent recurrence.

The complainant is notified of the resolution within 30 days of submission.

Principles of the Appeals and Complaints Processes

Transparency: All processes are clearly communicated to stakeholders.
Timeliness: Appeals and complaints are handled promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.
Impartiality: Committees are composed of individuals with no conflicts of interest in the case.
Confidentiality: Information is shared on a need-to-know basis and only with relevant parties.
Fairness: Both the complainant and the subject of the complaint are given an opportunity to present their perspectives.

Outcomes of Appeals and Complaints

For Appeals:

Manuscripts may be reconsidered for review or publication.
Feedback may be revised or clarified for transparency.

For Complaints:

Corrections, retractions, or other appropriate measures may be implemented.
Policy updates or procedural adjustments may be made to address systemic issues.

Continuous Improvement

JHWCR regularly reviews the outcomes of appeals and complaints to identify patterns or areas for improvement. This proactive approach helps enhance the overall quality, fairness, and transparency of the journal’s processes.

AUTHORSHIP CRITERIA AND ETHICAL POLICIES (UPDATED)

JHWCR upholds stringent authorship and ethical standards to ensure that credit is accurately assigned, contributions are properly acknowledged, and scholarly work is conducted responsibly. This policy aligns with globally accepted principles for authorship and publication ethics.

Authorship Criteria

To qualify for authorship, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

Significant Contributions:

Conception or design of the work.
Data collection, analysis, or interpretation of results.

Drafting or Revising the Work:

Involvement in drafting the manuscript or providing critical revisions that enhance intellectual content.

Approval of the Final Version:

All authors must review and approve the final version of the manuscript before submission or publication.

Accountability:

Authors must agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, including ensuring that questions related to accuracy or integrity are appropriately addressed.

Deceased Authors

The journal acknowledges the contributions of deceased authors, ensuring their work is respected and appropriately credited.

Inclusion of Deceased Authors:

Deceased individuals may be included as authors if they meet the authorship criteria outlined above.
Their contributions must be explicitly described, and a statement confirming their inclusion must be provided by the corresponding author or another co-author.
The manuscript should include a note in the acknowledgment or authorship section stating:

The author is deceased.
The approximate date of their passing.
Confirmation that their contributions meet the journal’s authorship criteria.

Submission Requirements:

If an author passes away before submission, the corresponding author or another co-author must take responsibility for ensuring the manuscript reflects the deceased author’s contributions accurately.
Institutional or family consent should be obtained, where applicable, to ensure ethical compliance.

Posthumous Contributions:

If a deceased author has contributed significantly to revisions or analyses conducted before their passing, these contributions must also be detailed and acknowledged appropriately.

Contributions Not Meeting Authorship Criteria

Individuals who do not meet the authorship criteria but have contributed to the work in other ways should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section. Examples include:

Administrative support.
Technical assistance.
Financial or material contributions.
Language or editorial assistance.

Acknowledgments must be approved by the contributors and clearly describe their roles.

Corresponding Author Responsibilities

The corresponding author serves as the primary point of contact between the journal and the authors during the submission, review, and publication process. Responsibilities include:

Ensuring all listed authors meet the authorship criteria.
Managing all communication with the journal on behalf of the author group.
Ensuring compliance with ethical policies, including proper disclosures and approvals.

Order of Authorship

The order of authorship should reflect the relative contributions of each author. Decisions on authorship order must be mutually agreed upon by all authors prior to submission.

Ethical Considerations in Authorship

Avoidance of Misconduct:

Ghost Authorship: Excluding individuals who made significant contributions is prohibited.
Gift Authorship: Including individuals who did not contribute significantly is prohibited.
Changes to Authorship: Any addition, removal, or reordering of authors after submission must be approved by all authors and the journal.

Conflict of Interest:

Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest, whether financial or non-financial, that could influence the interpretation of their work.

Duplicate or Redundant Submissions:

Submitting the same work to multiple journals simultaneously is unethical and will result in immediate rejection or retraction.

Dispute Resolution

In the event of an authorship dispute:

The journal encourages resolution at the institutional level before submission.
If a dispute arises post-submission, the editorial team may seek input from all parties and adhere to best practices for resolution. In unresolved cases, the manuscript may be withdrawn or rejected.

Transparency in Author Contributions

Authors are required to provide a Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT) statement that specifies individual contributions to the work. Examples of roles include:

Conceptualization.
Methodology.
Data curation.
Writing – original draft.
Writing – review and editing.

This statement ensures transparency and acknowledgment of each contributor's role in the research and manuscript preparation.

Ethical Policies for Authors

Research Integrity:

Authors must ensure that their research complies with applicable ethical guidelines for human and animal studies, including informed consent and ethical committee approvals.

Data Transparency:

Authors must make their data available upon request to support reproducibility, unless restricted by privacy, legal, or ethical concerns.

Acknowledgment of Funding:

Authors must disclose all sources of funding and their role in the research.

Corrections and Retractions:

Authors are responsible for notifying the journal promptly if significant errors are identified in their published work. Corrections or retractions will be issued as necessary.

Commitment to Global Standards

The journal’s authorship criteria and ethical policies reflect its dedication to fairness, integrity, and transparency in scholarly publishing. These guidelines ensure that all contributors, including deceased authors, are recognized appropriately and that published research adheres to the highest ethical standards.

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DOUBLE-BLIND PEER REVIEW & EDITORIAL PROCESS

JHWCR employs a rigorous double-blind peer review and editorial process to ensure that all manuscripts meet the highest standards of academic rigor, transparency, and integrity. This process ensures impartiality by keeping the identities of both authors and reviewers anonymous throughout the review process.

Stages of the Peer Review Process

Initial Screening:

Scope and Compliance: Manuscripts are reviewed by the editorial team for alignment with the journal’s aims, scope, and submission guidelines.
Ethical Compliance: Initial checks for plagiarism (using TURNITIN or equivalent tools) and adherence to ethical standards are performed. Submissions exceeding a similarity index of 20% are returned or rejected.
Quality Assessment: Manuscripts are evaluated for clarity, originality, and relevance. Those failing to meet basic standards are desk-rejected, with constructive feedback provided to authors.

Assignment of Reviewers:

Expert Selection: Two or more independent reviewers with subject-matter expertise are selected. Reviewers are screened for potential conflicts of interest to ensure impartiality.
Reviewer Anonymity: The double-blind process ensures that neither authors nor reviewers know each other’s identities.

Reviewer Responsibilities:

Confidentiality: Manuscripts are treated as confidential documents.
Thorough Evaluation: Reviewers assess manuscripts for:

Originality and significance of the research question.
Methodological rigor and appropriateness.
Validity and clarity of results.
Contribution to existing literature.

Constructive Feedback: Comments should be clear, objective, and focused on improving the manuscript.
Ethical Issues: Reviewers are encouraged to flag concerns such as plagiarism, duplicate submission, or ethical violations.

Review Outcomes:

Reviewers provide recommendations:

Accept with no revisions.
Minor revisions.
Major revisions.
Reject.

Editors synthesize reviewer feedback to make a preliminary decision.

Revision and Re-Review

Author Revisions: Authors receive consolidated feedback from reviewers and are given a defined timeframe (usually 2–4 weeks) to address the comments.
Re-Submission: Revised manuscripts may be sent back to the original reviewers or new reviewers for further evaluation.
Final Decision: The editorial team, in consultation with reviewers, makes the final decision to accept, reject, or request additional revisions.

Final Editorial Review

Before publication, accepted manuscripts undergo:

Copyediting: Ensuring adherence to the journal’s formatting and language standards.
Proofreading: Final checks for typographical errors, grammar, and clarity.
Typesetting and Layout: Formatting the manuscript for publication, including assigning a DOI.

Timelines

Initial Decision: Authors are typically informed of the editorial decision within 15–20 days of submission.
Total Review Time: The entire review and revision process is completed within 4–8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the revisions.

Editorial Oversight

Impartiality: Editors are responsible for ensuring an unbiased review process and addressing any ethical concerns raised during the review.
Reviewer Performance: Reviewer contributions are monitored, and feedback quality is assessed regularly.
Ethical Accountability: Editors ensure compliance with ethical guidelines, addressing concerns such as conflicts of interest, ethical violations, or manipulation of the review process.

Pre-Publication Checks

Plagiarism and Ethical Review: A final check for ethical compliance, originality, and adherence to publication standards is conducted before the manuscript is published.
Author Approvals: Authors are provided with final proofs for review and approval prior to publication.

Transparency and Appeals

Feedback: Authors receive detailed feedback, regardless of whether the manuscript is accepted or rejected.
Appeals: Authors may appeal decisions by submitting a formal request, which is reviewed by an independent committee.

Post-Publication Reviews

Post-Publication Commentary: The journal welcomes constructive comments or critiques of published articles. These are subject to editorial oversight and, if accepted, published alongside the original article.

Key Benefits of the Process

Rigorous Quality Control: Ensures published articles meet high academic and ethical standards.
Impartial Assessment: The double-blind process eliminates bias, fostering a fair evaluation environment.
Constructive Feedback: Reviewers provide actionable comments to help authors refine their work.
Timeliness: The streamlined process minimizes delays in disseminating research.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

JHWCR recognizes that authors may wish to withdraw their manuscripts for various reasons. The Withdrawal Policy ensures transparency and ethical practice in managing withdrawal requests while maintaining the integrity of the publishing process.

Scope

This policy applies to all stages of manuscript processing, including:

Pre-review withdrawal: Before the peer review process begins.
During or post-review withdrawal: After the manuscript has entered or completed the peer review stage.
Post-acceptance withdrawal: After the manuscript has been accepted for publication.

Withdrawal Policy Guidelines

Withdrawal Before Peer Review:

Authors may withdraw their manuscripts at this stage without providing reasons.
A written request for withdrawal must be submitted to the editorial office via the designated email or submission system.

Withdrawal During or After Peer Review:

Authors must provide valid reasons for the withdrawal request.
Examples of acceptable reasons:

Significant errors discovered in the manuscript.
Ethical concerns identified by the authors.
Submission to multiple journals by mistake.

The editorial team evaluates the validity of the reasons and confirms withdrawal upon approval.
Repeated withdrawals during this stage may result in a review of the author’s submission privileges.

Withdrawal After Acceptance:

Manuscripts may only be withdrawn under extraordinary circumstances, such as:

Legal or ethical issues.
Major errors that invalidate the research findings.

Authors must provide detailed explanations and supporting documentation for the withdrawal request.
The editorial team reserves the right to charge a withdrawal fee to cover costs incurred during the review and production process.

Conditions for Withdrawal

Withdrawal requests must be submitted by the corresponding author, and all co-authors must consent to the withdrawal.
If the manuscript is found to violate ethical standards (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate submission), the journal may initiate the withdrawal process, overriding the author’s request.

Post-Acceptance Withdrawal Fee

A fee may be applied for manuscripts withdrawn after acceptance to compensate for editorial and production efforts.
The fee amount is communicated to the authors at the time of withdrawal approval.

Consequences of Unethical Withdrawal

Unethical withdrawal practices, such as:

Repeated withdrawal without valid reasons.
Withdrawing after acceptance to submit to another journal for perceived advantages.
Concealing ethical violations during submission. May result in:
Formal notices to the authors’ institutions.
Temporary or permanent bans on future submissions to the journal.

Editorial Rights

The journal reserves the right to initiate a retraction for manuscripts with severe ethical violations, even after publication.
If the manuscript’s withdrawal is linked to an ethical issue, the case will be handled in accordance with the journal’s Ethical Standards and reported to the appropriate bodies when necessary.

Key Principles of the Withdrawal Policy

Transparency:

All withdrawal requests and decisions are documented for accountability.

Integrity:

The policy aims to uphold ethical publishing practices and discourage misconduct.

Flexibility:

Genuine and valid withdrawal requests are handled promptly and with fairness.

Protection of Academic Record:

Post-acceptance withdrawals are managed to minimize disruptions to the publishing process and safeguard the journal’s credibility.

Withdrawal Procedure

Submit a Request:

Send a formal withdrawal request via email or submission system.
Include manuscript ID, title, and detailed reasons for withdrawal.

Editorial Review:

The editorial team reviews the request and communicates its decision within 5–7 working days.

Confirmation:

Approved withdrawals are confirmed in writing.
A notice may be issued on the journal’s website or archive, explaining the reason for withdrawal (e.g., ethical concerns or author-requested).

AUTHOR FEES AND WAIVERS

JHWCR is committed to transparency and accessibility in its fee structure, ensuring that publication costs are reasonable and do not hinder the dissemination of high-quality research. The fee structure is designed to support the journal’s open-access model, covering operational and publishing expenses while maintaining equity for authors from diverse backgrounds.

Publication Fee

Fee Structure:

National Authors: PKR 15,000 per accepted manuscript.
International Authors: 70 USD.
Fees are applicable only upon acceptance of the manuscript and do not include any upfront charges such as submission or processing fees (no APCs).

What the Fee Covers:

Editorial and peer-review management.
Professional copyediting, proofreading, and formatting.
DOI assignment and indexing integration.
Long-term digital preservation and accessibility.
Open-access availability under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Exemptions:

There are no additional charges for supplementary materials, color figures, or extended content.

Waiver Policy

The journal recognizes the financial constraints that some authors may face and provides a waiver policy to ensure equitable opportunities for publication.

Eligibility for Waivers:

Authors from low-income or lower-middle-income countries as defined by international economic classifications.
Researchers facing significant financial constraints, such as those from underfunded institutions or independent researchers without grant support.
Early-career researchers or students with demonstrated financial need.

How to Apply:

Authors must submit a waiver request during the manuscript submission process or after acceptance.
The request should include:

A brief explanation of the financial circumstances.
Supporting documentation, such as institutional affiliation, country classification, or grant funding status.

Waiver requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and authors are notified of the decision promptly.

Scope of Waiver:

Full waivers or partial fee reductions may be granted.
The decision does not impact the editorial or peer-review process.

No Influence on Editorial Decisions

The payment of fees or requests for waivers does not influence:

The acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.
The rigor of the peer-review process.
The integrity of editorial decision-making.

Invoicing and Payment

Payment Timeline:

An invoice is issued to the corresponding author after acceptance of the manuscript.
Payment must be completed before the article moves to production.

Payment Methods:

Accepted payment methods include bank transfers, online payment systems, or other secure modes specified in the invoice.

Receipts and Documentation:

Authors receive official payment receipts for reimbursement or record-keeping purposes.

Ethical Considerations

Authors who fail to pay the required publication fee or falsify information in a waiver request may face delays in publication or potential rejection of their manuscript.
The journal ensures that fee-related decisions are handled with discretion and respect for authors’ privacy.

Commitment to Equity and Accessibility

The journal is committed to reducing financial barriers while ensuring the sustainability of its open-access model. By maintaining a modest fee structure and offering waivers to eligible authors, the journal fosters an inclusive publishing environment that supports global knowledge sharing.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

JHWCR is deeply committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of its operations, from editorial processes to the dissemination of research. By prioritizing inclusivity, the journal aims to create a welcoming platform for researchers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, ensuring that science serves as a tool for global understanding and progress.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Editorial and Review Processes:

The editorial board reflects a wide range of disciplines, cultures, and regions to ensure diverse perspectives in decision-making.
Peer reviewers are selected to represent a balance of expertise, geography, and backgrounds, enhancing the quality and fairness of manuscript evaluations.
The journal actively seeks to include underrepresented groups in its editorial board and review panels.

Content and Research Scope:

The journal encourages submissions addressing topics related to health disparities, social determinants of health, and the intersection of health with equity and justice.
Articles exploring challenges and innovations in underserved or marginalized communities are prioritized for global knowledge dissemination.

Inclusive Author Opportunities:

The journal supports authors from diverse academic, geographical, and socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly those from low- and middle-income countries.
Waiver and discount policies are designed to eliminate financial barriers to publication.
Early-career researchers and first-time authors are encouraged to submit their work, with editorial guidance offered when needed.

Language and Accessibility:

Manuscripts are accepted in English, with editorial assistance provided to non-native speakers to improve clarity without altering the scientific content.
Efforts are made to ensure the journal’s content is accessible to readers with disabilities, including compatibility with assistive technologies.

Promoting DEI Research:

The journal actively invites research that explores diversity, equity, and inclusion in health and wellness, addressing gaps in healthcare delivery, policy, and outcomes.
Studies that examine intersectional issues, such as the impact of race, gender, socioeconomic status, and geography on health, are strongly encouraged.

Key DEI Principles

Fairness:

Submissions are evaluated solely on their scientific merit, originality, and relevance, irrespective of the author’s nationality, race, gender, or affiliation.

Transparency:

Editorial decisions and policies are communicated clearly to all authors, reviewers, and stakeholders.
The journal ensures openness in its DEI initiatives and regularly reviews its progress.

Global Representation:

The journal strives for representation from authors, reviewers, and editorial board members across all regions, emphasizing inclusivity of perspectives from the Global South.

Community Engagement:

Collaborative partnerships are established with institutions and organizations that advocate for diversity in academic publishing and health research.
The journal participates in conferences, workshops, and initiatives promoting equitable research practices.

Accountability and Continuous Improvement

Feedback Mechanisms:

Authors, reviewers, and readers are encouraged to share feedback on the journal’s DEI practices.
A dedicated DEI committee evaluates feedback and implements improvements.

Monitoring and Reporting:

The journal regularly reviews its submission demographics, acceptance rates, and editorial board composition to identify and address potential inequities.

Educational Initiatives:

Training programs for editors and reviewers on unconscious bias, inclusive language, and equitable review practices are implemented.
Resources and workshops for authors on DEI in research design and reporting are made available.

Call to Action

The journal invites all stakeholders to join in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic publishing. By working together, we can ensure that the journal serves as a platform for transformative research that reflects the rich diversity of the global scientific community.

DATA SHARING POLICY

JHWCR is committed to advancing transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility in research by encouraging responsible data sharing. This policy outlines expectations for authors to make research data available to the scientific community while respecting ethical, legal, and privacy considerations.

Scope

The policy applies to all data generated or analyzed in manuscripts submitted to the journal, including but not limited to:

Quantitative and qualitative datasets.
Statistical analyses.
Survey results and metadata.
Supporting materials such as code, algorithms, and protocols.

Data Sharing Requirements

Data Availability Statement:

All submissions must include a Data Availability Statement outlining where and how the data supporting the findings of the article can be accessed.
Example templates for the statement:

“The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in [repository name], [persistent link or DOI].”
“Data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.”
“The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to [reason, e.g., privacy or ethical concerns], but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.”
“Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.”

Public Repositories:

Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in reputable public repositories to enhance accessibility and long-term preservation.
Examples of repositories include:

GenBank (for genetic data)
Dryad
Figshare
Zenodo

Repositories must provide a persistent identifier (e.g., DOI) for citation.

Metadata and Accessibility:

Datasets should be accompanied by sufficient metadata to enable other researchers to replicate or build upon the work.
Data should be provided in standard, widely-used formats to ensure compatibility and accessibility.

Citations and Acknowledgments:

Shared data should be cited in the manuscript using a persistent identifier (e.g., DOI).
Authors should acknowledge the repository and any individuals who contributed to the data collection or curation process.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

Privacy and Confidentiality:

Data involving human participants must comply with ethical standards, including anonymization or de-identification to protect privacy.
Authors must ensure informed consent covers the sharing of data in repositories or for research purposes.

Restrictions:

Authors must disclose any legal, proprietary, or ethical restrictions on data sharing.
Where data cannot be shared openly, authors should provide a clear explanation in the Data Availability Statement.

Compliance with Regulations:

Authors must adhere to applicable data protection laws, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

Support for Authors

Guidelines and Templates:

The journal provides templates and examples for Data Availability Statements to facilitate compliance.
Guidance is available for identifying appropriate repositories and preparing data for sharing.

Assistance for Non-Public Data:

Authors facing challenges in sharing data (e.g., privacy concerns or lack of infrastructure) can seek guidance from the editorial office to explore alternatives.

Editorial Oversight

Data Review:

The editorial team may request access to datasets during the peer review process to verify findings.
Reviewers are bound by confidentiality agreements and will only use data for evaluation purposes.

Post-Publication Data Issues:

Concerns regarding data integrity or availability post-publication will be investigated by the editorial team.
Authors may be required to address data-related issues through corrections or updates.

Benefits of Data Sharing

Transparency:

Enhances trust in research findings by allowing verification and validation of results.

Reproducibility:

Enables other researchers to replicate studies or perform secondary analyses.

Collaboration:

Facilitates interdisciplinary and cross-institutional research by making data widely accessible.

Exemptions

The journal recognizes that not all data can be shared openly due to:

Privacy or ethical concerns.
National security restrictions.
Legal or proprietary limitations. Authors are encouraged to provide as much transparency as possible while respecting these constraints.

Continuous Improvement

The journal regularly reviews its data sharing policy to align with evolving best practices, legal frameworks, and technological advancements. Feedback from authors, reviewers, and readers is welcomed to ensure the policy remains practical and effective.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI) POLICY

JHWCR is committed to ensuring the permanence, accessibility, and discoverability of its published content through the use of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs). This policy outlines the application, benefits, and management of DOIs in accordance with international best practices.

What is a DOI?

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to digital content to provide a persistent link to its location on the internet. DOIs ensure that even if a webpage or URL changes, the DOI will always resolve to the content.

Application of DOIs

Assignment of DOIs:

Each published article, including supplementary materials, is assigned a unique DOI.
DOIs are registered with CrossRef, a globally recognized DOI registration agency.

Scope of DOI Assignment:

Research articles, reviews, case studies, commentaries, and short communications.
Supplementary files, such as datasets or multimedia content, if deemed significant.

Display of DOIs:

DOIs are prominently displayed on:

Article landing pages on the journal’s website.
The first page of each article PDF.
Metadata provided to indexing and abstracting services.

Benefits of DOIs

Permanence:

DOIs ensure that articles remain accessible, even if the journal’s website structure changes.

Discoverability:

Articles with DOIs are more easily indexed by search engines, increasing visibility.

Citation Accuracy:

DOIs provide a reliable and standardized way to cite articles, ensuring accurate referencing in scholarly work.

Integration with Indexing Services:

DOIs enable seamless integration with global indexing platforms, repositories, and citation databases, enhancing the impact of published research.

Management and Updates

DOI Metadata:

The journal ensures that all DOI metadata, including titles, author names, abstracts, and keywords, are accurate and up to date.
Metadata is submitted to CrossRef at the time of DOI assignment and updated as needed.

Version Control:

If an article is corrected, retracted, or updated, the DOI remains the same, but a clear version history is maintained in the metadata.
CrossRef’s CrossMark service is utilized to indicate updates, corrections, or retractions.

Error Resolution:

If a DOI link is found to be broken, the journal promptly investigates and resolves the issue to maintain accessibility.

Editorial Oversight

DOI Assignment:

The editorial office oversees the assignment of DOIs to ensure consistency and compliance with CrossRef standards.

Reviewer Access:

During the peer-review process, reviewers are provided with secure links to pre-publication materials, but DOIs are only assigned post-acceptance.

Compliance Monitoring:

The journal regularly audits DOI usage and management to ensure adherence to industry best practices.

Ethical and Practical Considerations

Citing Articles with DOIs:

Authors must include DOIs for references cited in their manuscripts whenever available.
Example of a proper citation with DOI:

Author(s). Title. Journal Name. Year; Volume(Issue): Page numbers. DOI: [10.xxxx/xxxx]

Open Access Integration:

DOIs are linked to open-access articles, ensuring free and unrestricted access for readers globally.

Long-Term Preservation:

DOIs are a key component of the journal’s archiving strategy, integrated with services such as PKP Private LOCKSS and planned future collaborations with CLOCKSS or Portico.

Educational Support for Authors

DOI Usage Training:

Authors are provided with guidance on the importance of DOIs and how to include them in their citations.

Metadata Assistance:

The editorial team assists authors in ensuring their metadata (e.g., keywords, abstracts) aligns with best practices to maximize discoverability.

Continuous Improvement

The journal is dedicated to refining its DOI practices in response to technological advancements, evolving industry standards, and feedback from authors, reviewers, and readers. By prioritizing the consistent and ethical application of DOIs, the journal ensures that its published content remains a valuable and accessible resource for the global research community.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

JHWCR is committed to ensuring that its content, website, and publishing processes are accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities. This policy outlines the journal’s dedication to inclusivity, usability, and compliance with global accessibility standards to create a seamless experience for all stakeholders.

Accessibility Objectives

Content Accessibility:

Ensuring that published articles and supplementary materials are accessible to readers, including those using assistive technologies such as screen readers.
Providing multiple formats (e.g., HTML, PDF) for easy access and navigation.

Website Accessibility:

Designing the journal’s website to comply with recognized accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA or higher.

Inclusive Author and Reviewer Support:

Offering resources and assistance to authors and reviewers with disabilities to ensure their active participation in the publication process.

Accessibility Features

Website Features:

Logical navigation and structure to facilitate ease of use.
Alt text for all images and graphical elements to describe content for visually impaired users.
Compatibility with screen readers and keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse.
Adjustable text size and contrast options for users with visual impairments.

Content Features:

Published articles include structured headings, clear formatting, and logical flow for ease of reading and navigation.
Alt text descriptions for figures, tables, and images in articles to ensure their interpretability by assistive devices.
Transcripts and captions for multimedia content, such as videos or audio files.

Document Formats:

Accessible PDFs with embedded metadata and tagged content for logical reading order.
HTML versions of articles optimized for screen readers.

Support for Authors and Reviewers

Accessible Submission System:

The journal’s submission and review system is designed to accommodate users with disabilities.
Assistance is available for authors who encounter challenges during submission.

Author Guidelines:

Authors are encouraged to create accessible content by:

Providing clear descriptions of figures and tables.
Using plain language where possible.
Formatting manuscripts to align with accessibility standards.

Reviewer Support:

Reviewers with disabilities are offered accommodations, such as extended deadlines or alternative formats for manuscript reviews.

Compliance with Global Standards

The journal adheres to internationally recognized accessibility frameworks, including:

WCAG 2.1: Guidelines for web accessibility.
Section 508: Standards for electronic and information technology accessibility in the United States.
Equality Act (2010): Standards ensuring non-discrimination in services, applicable in the UK.

Feedback and Improvement

Feedback Mechanism:

Users can report accessibility issues via a dedicated email or feedback form on the journal’s website.
The journal responds promptly to address and resolve reported issues.

Continuous Monitoring:

Regular audits of the website and content are conducted to identify and rectify accessibility gaps.
Feedback from users informs ongoing improvements.

Training and Awareness:

The editorial team receives training on accessibility best practices to ensure content and processes remain inclusive.

Commitment to Continuous Accessibility

The journal recognizes that accessibility is an evolving goal. As technology and standards develop, the journal commits to:

Regular updates to its website and publishing processes.
Incorporating user feedback to refine its approach.
Collaborating with accessibility experts to maintain compliance with the latest standards.

Call to Action

The journal invites readers, authors, and reviewers to share their experiences and suggestions for enhancing accessibility. By working together, the journal aims to ensure that its content and platform are fully inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.

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