Editor's Guidelines

Editors of the Journal of Clinical Advances in Dentistry (JCAD) play a critical role in safeguarding the quality, integrity, and reputation of the journal. This guideline outlines the responsibilities and ethical standards expected of editors.

Editorial independence is paramount. Decisions must be based solely on academic merit, free from personal, financial, or institutional bias.

Core Responsibilities of Editors

  • Ensure timely, fair, and transparent peer review
  • Safeguard the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
  • Make decisions based on scholarly merit, relevance, and ethical compliance
  • Prevent and manage conflicts of interest
  • Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in publishing

Manuscript Handling

  1. Conduct an initial assessment for scope, originality, and ethical compliance
  2. Select qualified peer reviewers with relevant expertise
  3. Ensure double-blind review integrity is maintained
  4. Monitor the timeliness of reviews and communications

Ethical Oversight

Editors must adhere to COPE guidelines for handling suspected misconduct. Cases of plagiarism, fabrication, or ethical breaches must be investigated promptly and fairly.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts and reviewer reports are confidential documents. Editors must not disclose or use unpublished material for personal gain.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist (e.g., prior collaborations, institutional affiliations, personal relationships).

Communication with Authors and Reviewers

  • Provide clear, constructive feedback to authors
  • Ensure respectful communication with reviewers and authors
  • Communicate decisions transparently, supported by reviewer feedback

Decision-Making

Editors must make unbiased decisions regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection. Appeals should be considered fairly, with oversight by the Editor-in-Chief if necessary.

Promoting Research Integrity

  • Encourage adherence to reporting standards (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE)
  • Promote reproducibility by encouraging data and materials sharing
  • Support ethical conduct in human and animal research

Post-Publication Responsibilities

Editors must facilitate corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when required. Transparency in post-publication oversight maintains scholarly trust.

FAQs

How should editors handle suspected plagiarism?

Follow COPE flowcharts: investigate, seek author explanation, and act accordingly (rejection, correction, retraction).

What if a reviewer misses the deadline?

Editors should remind reviewers and, if necessary, assign alternative experts to avoid delays.

Can editors publish in JCAD?

Yes, but such submissions must be handled by independent editors with transparency.