The Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research (JAPER) is committed to maintaining standards of integrity and ethical conduct in all aspects of its publication process. This policy is guided by key international guidelines, primarily the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

The journal’s ethical framework is built upon transparency, accountability, and the promotion of trust among all participants: authors, peer reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

1. Foundation of Ethical Research and Publication

JAPER is guided by the ethical requirements for research involving human subjects, as defined by the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research involving Human Subjects.

Disclosure and Linkage: The full text of the Declaration of Helsinki can be accessed through this functioning link:

https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/

2. Research Involving Human and Animal Subjects and Vulnerable Populations

• Human Subjects Compliance: All research submitted that involves human participants, data, or materials should demonstrate compliance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Authors should confirm that the study was reviewed and approved by an appropriate institutional ethics committee, where applicable (e.g., Institutional Review Board or equivalent).
• Informed Consent: Documented informed consent from all human participants (or their legal guardians) should be stated within the manuscript.
• Policy for Vulnerable Populations: The journal recognizes that specific studies involve participants who are particularly susceptible to coercion or undue influence, such as children, patients with cognitive disabilities, or institutionalized individuals. For research involving these vulnerable groups, authors should describe the following:
  • The specific ethical justification for including the vulnerable group.
  • The detailed procedures used to obtain informed assent (from the participant, if applicable) and informed consent from a legally authorized representative.
  • All measures taken to protect the privacy and rights of these participants.
• Animal Subjects: Research involving animals should adhere to institutional and national animal welfare guidelines. Authors should confirm that all procedures minimize distress and pain and that they were approved by a relevant ethics committee.

Compliance with these requirements is mandatory for publication in JAPER.

3. Handling Misconduct, Corrections, and Retractions

The journal follows COPE Core Practices and Guidelines in addressing allegations of publication misconduct.

• Publication Malpractice (COPE): Publication misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and duplicate submission.

• Corrections Policy: If a published article contains a significant error that does not affect the scientific validity of the findings, the journal may issue a formal "Correction Notice". This notice will be prominently linked to the original article and will clearly detail the nature of the error and the change made.
• Retractions Policy: Articles may be retracted in cases of confirmed research misconduct (e.g., fabrication, plagiarism) or major ethical breaches. A formal "Retraction Notice" will be published, clearly stating the reason for retraction, and will be visible on the article page.
• Roles in Misconduct Investigation: Allegations of misconduct are investigated in line with COPE guidelines. The Publisher and Editors are responsible for initiating investigations when necessary (issuing corrections or retractions).

4. Responsibilities of Stakeholders

5. Authorship, Originality, and Data Integrity

• Originality and Plagiarism: Submissions should represent original, unpublished work.
• Authorship Criteria (ICMJE): Authorship should be based on substantial contributions as defined by ICMJE criteria. Changes in authorship require written consent from all authors.
• Data Availability and Integrity: Authors should provide access to relevant source data upon reasonable request, ensuring research reproducibility.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools: Authors should disclose the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, if applicable. AI tools cannot be listed as authors, and authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript.

Harassment Policy

The journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment or discrimination against authors, reviewers, editors, or staff. Any reported cases will be investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines, and appropriate corrective actions will be taken where necessary.