Complaint Handling Procedure

Editorial Integrity & Accountability

Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, or other stakeholders concerning:

• Editorial decisions or peer-review procedures;
• Plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, authorship disputes, or other misconduct;
• Errors or inaccuracies in published articles; or
• Breaches of journal policy or accepted publishing practices.

Complaints must be submitted in writing to [email protected] with the subject: Complaint – [Manuscript ID / Article DOI].

Please include:

• Name and contact details, or a request for anonymity;
• Manuscript ID, DOI, or other relevant reference;
• A clear description of the issue and supporting evidence; and
• Your relationship to the manuscript or journal.

Receipt of a complaint will normally be acknowledged within 5 business days. The journal will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether further investigation is required.

Where appropriate, the case will be handled by an independent editor or panel not involved in the original decision. Additional information may be requested from authors, reviewers, institutions, or other relevant parties. COPE guidance will be followed where applicable.

The journal aims to reach an outcome within 6 weeks, although complex cases may require additional time.

The complainant will be informed in writing of the outcome and, where relevant, any corrective action, such as a correction, expression of concern, retraction, or procedural improvement. Confidentiality will be maintained unless disclosure is required by law or formal investigation.

If the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome, a request for reconsideration may be submitted to a senior Editorial Board member or the publisher. Where appropriate, guidance may also be sought from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).