Editorial Board Guidelines | Journal of Health Care and Research

Editorial Board Structure

Shared Responsibility for Academic Quality

The Journal of Health Care and Research depends on active collaboration among the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, reviewers, and the editorial office. Together, they safeguard the quality and credibility of the journal by evaluating submissions impartially, selecting qualified reviewers, addressing ethical concerns, and supporting clear communication throughout the publication process.

Roles and Responsibilities

Editorial Leadership Structure

Editorial duties may vary according to subject expertise, manuscript volume, and journal requirements. Each role contributes to a consistent, transparent, and academically rigorous peer-review process.

Academic Leadership

Editor-in-Chief

Provides strategic and academic leadership and holds final responsibility for the journal’s editorial direction and published content.

Establish and maintain the journal’s academic scope, standards, and editorial priorities.
Make or approve final decisions on acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts.
Ensure that decisions are fair, independent, evidence-based, and free from inappropriate influence.
Oversee publication ethics, complaints, appeals, corrections, retractions, and other integrity matters.
Support timely manuscript handling and sustainable publication flow.
Encourage high-quality submissions, editorials, thematic collections, and special issues.
Represent and promote the journal within the academic and professional community.
Advise the publisher on journal development, editorial policy, and long-term growth.

Manuscript Management

Associate Editor

Manages manuscripts within an assigned subject area and supports the Editor-in-Chief in maintaining an efficient and credible peer-review process.

Conduct an initial academic assessment of assigned submissions.
Select independent reviewers with appropriate subject expertise.
Monitor reviewer progress and support timely completion of peer review.
Evaluate reviewer comments and author revisions objectively.
Provide evidence-based editorial recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief.
Identify possible duplication, plagiarism, ethical concerns, or undeclared conflicts.
Communicate clearly with authors, reviewers, and the editorial office.
Support special issues, outreach, and journal development within the relevant discipline.

Subject Expertise

Editorial Board Member

Contributes specialist knowledge, peer-review support, and strategic advice to strengthen the journal’s scientific quality and professional reach.

Review manuscripts that fall within their area of expertise when reasonably available.
Recommend qualified and independent peer reviewers.
Advise the Editor-in-Chief on emerging topics, subject developments, and journal priorities.
Support the identification and handling of ethical issues, complaints, and appeals.
Promote high standards of originality, transparency, and methodological quality.
Propose editorials, review topics, thematic collections, or special issues.
Encourage suitable submissions without compromising editorial independence.
Provide constructive feedback on journal development and published issues.

Special Collections

Guest Editor

Provides topic-specific leadership for an approved special issue or thematic collection in collaboration with the journal’s editorial office.

Develop a focused and academically relevant proposal for the special issue.
Define the scope, objectives, suggested topics, and proposed publication schedule.
Invite suitable contributions from qualified researchers and professionals.
Support reviewer selection and manuscript evaluation within the journal’s editorial framework.
Maintain confidentiality, impartiality, and full conflict-of-interest disclosure.
Work closely with the Editor-in-Chief and editorial office throughout peer review.
Avoid guaranteeing acceptance or bypassing the journal’s standard editorial requirements.
Prepare or assist with an introductory editorial when requested.

Editorial Integrity

Core Ethical Standards

Every member of the editorial team is expected to protect the scholarly record and uphold the independence, fairness, confidentiality, and credibility of editorial decisions.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts, reviewer identities, editorial discussions, and unpublished information must not be disclosed or used for personal or professional gain.

Impartiality

Decisions must be based on scholarly quality, relevance, originality, methodological soundness, and ethical compliance.

Conflict Disclosure

Financial, institutional, academic, collaborative, or personal relationships that may affect judgment must be disclosed.

Research Integrity

Suspected plagiarism, duplicate submission, falsified data, unethical research, or misconduct must be reported to the editorial office.

Timeliness

Editors should accept assignments only when they can provide a careful assessment within a reasonable period.

Professional Communication

Communication with authors, reviewers, editors, and staff must remain respectful, objective, constructive, and relevant.

Peer-Review Workflow

Editorial Decision Process

Editorial Board members should support a structured review process that provides authors with fair consideration while protecting the scientific quality and integrity of the journal.

01

Initial Assessment

Confirm that the submission fits the journal’s scope and meets basic standards of originality, quality, ethics, and presentation.

02

Reviewer Selection

Identify reviewers with appropriate expertise, independence, availability, and no disqualifying conflict of interest.

03

Evaluation

Consider reviewer reports critically and assess whether conclusions are supported by the evidence and methodology.

04

Editorial Decision

Communicate a clear decision supported by constructive, relevant, and professionally presented editorial feedback.

Appointment Standards

Participation and Professional Conduct

Active Editorial Participation

Editorial appointments are based on subject expertise, academic experience, research activity, professional standing, and the journal’s current editorial needs. Members are expected to remain reasonably available, respond to communications, and participate in editorial activities aligned with their expertise.

Professional Contribution

Benefits of Editorial Service

Editorial service is a meaningful academic responsibility that allows experts to contribute to scholarly communication while expanding their professional experience and networks.

Emerging Research

Gain early awareness of developing methods, evidence, debates, and priorities within your field.

Academic Recognition

Strengthen your professional profile through visible service to scholarly publishing.

Professional Networking

Connect with researchers, clinicians, reviewers, and specialists from different institutions.

Scholarly Leadership

Help shape responsible publication practices and contribute to the future direction of the discipline.

Editorial Development

Refine your ability to assess manuscripts, methodologies, reporting quality, and ethics.

Special Issue Leadership

Propose focused collections addressing timely or emerging areas of health research.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How are Editorial Board members selected?

Selection is based on academic qualifications, subject expertise, publication history, professional experience, research activity, and the journal’s current editorial requirements.

How often may a member be asked to review?

Review invitations depend on manuscript volume, topic relevance, and the member’s expertise. Members should accept only those assignments they can evaluate carefully and within the requested period.

Can Editorial Board members submit their own articles?

Yes. Editorial Board members may submit manuscripts, but they receive no preferential treatment. Their submissions remain subject to independent editorial assessment, peer review, ethical screening, and the journal’s standard publication requirements.

What should an editor do when a conflict of interest exists?

The editor should disclose the conflict promptly and decline involvement in the manuscript when independent judgment may be affected or reasonably questioned.

Can an Editorial Board member propose a special issue?

Yes. Members may submit a proposal outlining the topic, academic relevance, objectives, suggested themes, potential contributors, and proposed timeline. Approval is subject to editorial and publisher review.

Can an Editorial Board member resign from the position?

Yes. Members may resign by notifying the editorial office. Reasonable notice is appreciated so that pending editorial responsibilities can be reassigned appropriately.