For Authors

Healthcare Research Journal

Official Journal of Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Institutes

Authorship Criteria

To ensure that authorship is attributed fairly and that all contributors who meet these standards are appropriately recognized, HCRJ editorial board follows the criteria of authorship as set by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). By adhering to these criteria, we maintain the integrity and quality of our scientific publications.


To be recognized as an author of a manuscript, one must fulfill ALL of the following:

Significant Contribution:

  • Engage in the initial conception or design of the study, or participate in data collection, analysis, or interpretation.

Manuscript Development:

  • Participate in drafting or revising the manuscript critically to ensure significant intellectual content.

Final Approval:

  • Provide final approval of the manuscript version that will be published.

Accountability:

  • Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that any issues related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the research are properly investigated and resolved.


Contributors who do not meet all four authorship criteria should be acknowledged rather than listed as authors. Examples of such contributions include funding acquisition, general supervision, administrative support, and various forms of editorial assistance.

Manuscript Types

HCRJ welcomes a variety of article types, including Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Case Reports, Clinical Trials, Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Short Communications, Editorials, and Letters to the Editor. Authors are required to adhere to the specific guidelines and checklists relevant to each article type to ensure clarity, consistency, and quality in scholarly publishing. Additionally, all clinical trials must be registered with appropriate bodies, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals must be obtained wherever necessary. This ensures that ethical standards are maintained and research integrity is upheld throughout the submission and publication process.


Below are the brief introductions and standard guidelines for each type of article:


Original Research Articles

These articles present new and original findings from experimental or observational research. They are the primary means of disseminating new scientific knowledge.


Guidelines:

  • Abstract: A concise summary of the research question, methods, results, and conclusions.
  • Introduction: Background information, research question, and objectives.
  • Methods: Detailed description of the experimental design, materials, and procedures.
  • Results: Presentation of findings with appropriate use of tables and figures.
  • Discussion: Interpretation of results, implications, and comparison with previous research.
  • Conclusion: Summary of key findings and future research directions.
  • References: Comprehensive list of all cited literature.



Review Articles

These provide a comprehensive summary of research on a specific topic, summarizing recent developments and offering critical analysis.


Guidelines:

  • Abstract: Brief overview of the topic and main conclusions.
  • Introduction: Explanation of the topic's significance and scope.
  • Body: Structured sections discussing different aspects or findings related to the topic.
  • Conclusion: Summary of the current state of research and future directions.
  • References: Extensive list of relevant studies and reviews.


Case Reports

Detailed report of the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. They often highlight unusual or novel occurrences.


Guidelines:

  • Abstract: Summary of the case and its significance.
  • Introduction: Background and rationale for reporting the case.
  • Case Presentation: Detailed patient information, clinical findings, diagnostic tests, treatment, and outcomes.
  • Discussion: Analysis of the case in the context of existing literature.
  • Conclusion: Key takeaways and implications for practice.
  • References: Relevant literature cited.


Clinical Trials

Reports on the methodology and results of clinical trials.


Guidelines:

  • Abstract: Summary of the trial's objectives, methods, results, and conclusions.
  • Introduction: Background, rationale, and objectives of the trial.
  • Methods: Detailed description of the trial design, participants, interventions, and outcome measures.
  • Results: Findings with statistical analysis.
  • Discussion: Interpretation of results, limitations, and implications.
  • Conclusion: Summary of findings and clinical relevance.
  • References: All cited studies and sources.


Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

These synthesize existing research on a topic using systematic methods to collect, analyze, and summarize data.


Guidelines:

  • Abstract: Summary of the review's objectives, methods, results, and conclusions.
  • Introduction: Background and objectives of the review.
  • Methods: Detailed methodology for literature search, inclusion criteria, and data extraction.
  • Results: Findings with synthesis and statistical analysis.
  • Discussion: Interpretation of results, comparison with other studies, and limitations.
  • Conclusion: Summary of findings and implications for future research.
  • References: Comprehensive list of included studies and other relevant literature.


Short Communications

Brief reports on novel findings or significant updates that do not warrant a full-length article.


Guidelines:

  • Abstract: Brief summary of the communication.
  • Introduction: Background and purpose of the report.
  • Methods: Summary of methods used.
  • Results: Key findings.
  • Discussion: Brief interpretation of results.
  • Conclusion: Summary of findings.
  • References: Relevant citations.


Editorials

Short articles that express opinions or perspectives on a topic of interest to the journal's readership.


Guidelines:

  • Introduction: Context and significance of the topic.
  • Body: Discuss the issue and present the author’s viewpoint.
  • Conclusion: Summary of key points.
  • References: If applicable, relevant literature citations.


Letters to the Editor

Short comments or critiques regarding previously published articles or current issues in the field.


Guidelines:

  • Introduction: Brief explanation of the purpose of the letter.
  • Body: Main points and arguments.
  • Conclusion: Final thoughts.
  • References: If applicable, relevant citations.


Using AI Tools

For using AI tools in scholarly research, the recommendations are stated as follow:



  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors: AI tools, such as chatbots, do not meet the criteria for authorship. They cannot comprehend or fulfill the responsibilities of an author, such as final approval of the version to be published or accountability for the integrity of the work.
  • Disclosure of AI tool usage: Authors must clearly state when AI tools have been used in the creation of their manuscripts. This includes providing detailed information about the AI tool used (name, version, model, source) and how it was applied (e.g., query structure and syntax).
  • Accountability for AI-generated content: Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and originality of content generated by AI tools in their papers. They must also ensure proper attribution of all sources, including those produced by AI, and verify that there is no plagiarism.
  • Need for AI detection tools for editors: Editors require effective tools to identify AI-generated or altered content in submissions. These tools should be accessible to all editors, regardless of financial constraints, to maintain the integrity of scientific publishing.


These guidelines aim to maintain the integrity and quality of research publications by ensuring transparent and responsible use of AI tools in the writing process.

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism, defined as the use of another's ideas, text, images, or data without proper attribution, is strictly prohibited in our scientific journal. This includes verbatim copying, close paraphrasing, and the use of others' work, even your own previously published content, without appropriate acknowledgment. Plagiarism undermines the integrity of scientific research and violates ethical standards. Any manuscript found to contain plagiarized material during the submission or review process will be rejected outright. If plagiarism is discovered post-publication, the article will be retracted, and appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with our ethical guidelines. Similarly, Data fabrication, the act of inventing or altering research data to mislead or deceive, is a serious breach of scientific integrity and is strictly forbidden. This unethical practice includes creating data that were never obtained through actual experiments or manipulating existing data to produce desired outcomes, which fundamentally undermines the trustworthiness of scientific research. Any manuscript found to contain fabricated data during the review process will be immediately rejected. If data fabrication is discovered after publication, the article will be retracted, and further actions will be taken according to our ethical standards. We are committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity and ensuring the originality and credibility of all published work.

Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Guidelines

HCRJ follows the standards set by ICJME for submissions having any kind of conflict of interest. Public trust in scientific research and the credibility of published work rely heavily on the transparent handling of authors' relationships and activities that are related to their work. A conflict of interest arises when an author’s professional judgment regarding a primary interest, such as patient welfare or research validity, may be influenced by a secondary interest, like financial gain. Both real and perceived conflicts of interest can undermine trust in scientific research. Therefore, it is crucial that authors fully disclose their relationships and activities, allowing readers to evaluate the potential influence on the work.


Financial relationships, such as employment, consultancies, and stock ownership, are the most visible and commonly perceived conflicts of interest. However, personal relationships, academic competition, and intellectual beliefs can also present conflicts. Authors should not enter into agreements with sponsors that restrict their access to data or their ability to independently publish findings. Failure to disclose relevant relationships or activities constitutes misconduct. Authors must clearly distinguish between direct support for their work and general institutional support. All participants in the publication process, including reviewers and editors, must disclose any potential biases to maintain the integrity of the review and publication process.


HealthCare Research Journal (HCRJ) requires authors to use the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Disclosure Form. This form must declare:

  • Authors' Relationships and Activities: All relationships and activities that might bias or be perceived to bias their work.
  • Sources of Support: Detailed information on funding sources, including sponsor names and their roles in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript writing, and any restrictions on publication. If the sponsor had no involvement, this should be clearly stated.
  • Data Access: Information on whether authors had access to the study data, detailing the nature and extent of access, including whether it is ongoing.



This disclosure ensures that readers can assess the potential influence of external factors on the research, thereby upholding the integrity and credibility of the published work.

Publishing Ethics Guidelines

The HealthCare Research Journal (HCRJ) is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of publishing ethics. Our guidelines ensure the protection of research subjects, adherence to ethical standards in research involving humans and animals, proper registration of clinical trials, and transparency in data sharing. These guidelines are based on the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).


Research Involving Human Subjects and Use of Animals

HCRJ is committed to ensuring that all research involving human participants is conducted ethically and in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and according to guidelines of ICJME. This policy outlines the requirements for the protection of research participants.


Adherence to Ethical Standards

Helsinki Declaration Compliance: All research must be conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the Helsinki Declaration as revised in 2013. Investigators are responsible for ensuring that the planning, conduct, and reporting of their research comply with these ethical guidelines.


Approval from Review Bodies: Authors must seek approval from an independent local, regional, or national review body, such as an ethics committee or institutional review board, prior to conducting research. Documentation of this approval should be available for review by the journal's editors upon request.


Ethical Justification: In cases where there is uncertainty about adherence to the Helsinki Declaration, authors must provide a rationale for their methods and evidence of explicit approval from the review body for any contentious aspects of the study.

Editorial Discretion: Approval by a review body does not preclude the journal's editors from making independent judgments about the ethical conduct of the research.


Patient Privacy and Informed Consent

Right to Privacy: Patients' privacy rights must be respected. Identifying information, such as names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published unless it is crucial for scientific purposes and written informed consent has been obtained from the patient or their legal guardian.


  • Informed Consent for Publication: Written informed consent requires that identifiable patients review the manuscript to be published. Authors must inform patients about the possibility of their identifiable information being available both in print and online. Consent documents should be archived either by the journal, the authors, or both, in accordance with local regulations.
  • Confidentiality Assurance: Nonessential identifying details should be omitted to maintain anonymity. If anonymity cannot be guaranteed, informed consent must be obtained. Masking the eye region in photographs is insufficient for maintaining anonymity.
  • Deidentification and Scientific Integrity: Authors must confirm that deidentifying information does not alter the scientific meaning, and editors will note this assurance.


Animal Research

Ethical Standards for Animal Research: Authors must indicate compliance with institutional and national standards for the care and use of laboratory animals when reporting experiments involving animals.


Publication Requirements

Informed Consent Documentation: The requirement for informed consent must be stated in the journal's instructions for authors. When informed consent has been obtained, it should be explicitly mentioned in the published article.


Registration of Clinical Trials

The HealthCare Research Journal (HCRJ) follows the recommendations set forth by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) regarding the registration of clinical trials. Detailed guidelines can be found at the ICMJE website: ICMJE Recommendations on Clinical Trial Registration.


Mandatory Registration: As a condition for consideration of publication, clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible trials registry. Registration should occur at or before the time of first patient enrollment.


Accepted Registries: We accept registration in any public registry that:

  • Is a primary register of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and includes the minimum acceptable 24-item trial registration dataset.
  • Alternatively, registration in ClinicalTrials.gov, which is a data provider to the WHO ICTRP, is also acceptable.
  • Ensuring compliance with these registration requirements is essential for the transparency and reproducibility of clinical research. The registration of clinical trials allows for comprehensive tracking of trial methodologies and outcomes, promoting ethical research standards.


Data Sharing

The HealthCare Research Journal (HCRJ) adheres to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations regarding data sharing statements for clinical trials. According to the policy detailed at ICMJE Recommendations on Clinical Trial Registration, any submission reporting clinical trial results must include a comprehensive data sharing statement.


This statement must address the following elements:

  • Data Availability: Specify whether individual de-identified participant data (including data dictionaries) will be shared. Note that "undecided" is not an acceptable response.
  • Specific Data Shared: Clarify what particular data will be shared.
  • Additional Documents: Indicate whether additional documents related to the study (e.g., study protocol, statistical analysis plan) will be available.
  • Timing and Duration: Define when the data will be available and for what duration.
  • Access Criteria: Detail the criteria for data access, including with whom the data will be shared, for what types of analyses, and by what mechanism.


These requirements ensure transparency and facilitate further research by making critical data available to the scientific community.


Other Policies

The journal follows ICMJE recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work. These guidelines ensure the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and quality in the research we publish. For detailed information, authors are encouraged to consult the ICMJE recommendations.

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