سياسة حماية المشاركين في البحث

1. Purpose

Qurina Scientific Journal (QSJ) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the conduct and publication of research involving human participants, animals, and sensitive data. This Policy establishes requirements to ensure that the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of research participants are protected in all submitted and published works.

2. Research Involving Human Participants

2.1 Authors must confirm that all research involving human participants has been conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, relevant national and institutional ethical standards, and applicable legislation.

2.2 Authors must provide evidence of approval from a duly constituted Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Research Ethics Committee (REC) prior to the commencement of the study.

2.3 Where formal ethics approval was not required by local regulations, authors must provide a clear statement explaining this and affirming that the research adhered to ethical principles.

2.4 Informed consent:

§  Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants, or from parents/legal guardians in the case of minors or vulnerable populations.

§  For case reports or identifiable images/data, explicit written consent for publication must be obtained and documented.

3. Research Involving Animals

3.1 Studies involving animals must comply with recognized international standards, such as the ARRIVE Guidelines, and be approved by an institutional animal care and use committee.

3.2 Authors must state in the manuscript that procedures involving animals complied with ethical and welfare standards and minimized suffering.

4. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Data Protection

4.1 Authors must take all reasonable steps to protect the privacy and confidentiality of participants.

4.2 Identifiable personal information, images, or data shall not be published unless essential for scientific purposes and accompanied by documented informed consent.

4.3 Authors must comply with applicable data protection laws and institutional regulations (e.g., GDPR or local equivalents).

5. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

5.1 Editors shall ensure that manuscripts comply with this Policy before publication.

5.2 Reviewers must report any concerns regarding potential breaches of participant protection or ethical standards.

5.3 Qurina Scientific Journal (QSJ) reserves the right to reject or retract manuscripts where ethical approval or adequate participant protection cannot be demonstrated.

6. Sanctions and Remedial Actions

6.1 Failure to comply with this Policy may result in:

§  Rejection of the manuscript.

§  Retraction of the published article.

§  Notification of the author’s institution, ethics committee, or funding agency.

6.2 Qurina Scientific Journal (QSJ) will act in accordance with COPE’s Guidelines on Ethical Oversight when addressing concerns about participant protection.