Author Policies

1. Human and Animal Rights Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal adheres to internationally recognized guidelines for the ethical treatment of human and animal subjects in research. For human studies, authors are required to obtain informed consent from participants, ensuring that they understand the nature of the study and any potential risks involved. The research must be conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and other relevant ethical standards. For animal studies, the journal follows the guidelines set by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or the equivalent regulatory body. Authors must ensure that animals are treated humanely, and that studies are designed to minimize pain and distress. All studies involving human or animal subjects must be approved by the appropriate ethical review committees before submission. The journal may reject manuscripts that do not meet these ethical requirements, as the integrity of research is paramount to maintaining the trust of the scientific community and the public.

2. Data Sharing Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal encourages authors to share their research data openly and transparently in order to enhance the reproducibility and credibility of their findings. Authors are encouraged to deposit their datasets in publicly accessible repositories, such as institutional repositories or general repositories like Dryad or Figshare, when applicable. Data sharing should be in compliance with privacy laws and ethical guidelines, particularly in research involving sensitive patient information. The journal also requires that authors disclose any restrictions on data sharing, such as legal, ethical, or commercial limitations, at the time of submission. By promoting data sharing, the journal seeks to contribute to the open science movement, fostering collaboration and enabling others in the field of palliative care to build upon existing research for better patient outcomes.

3. Sample Paper

A sample paper is provided by the Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal to assist authors in understanding the journal’s manuscript formatting, structure, and style guidelines. The sample paper includes sections such as the abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion, along with appropriate references and acknowledgments. Authors are encouraged to follow this format when preparing their submissions, as it helps streamline the editorial and review process. The journal aims to ensure that submitted manuscripts are consistent in terms of structure and readability, facilitating a smoother review process. Additionally, the sample paper demonstrates how to properly cite sources, use headings, and format figures and tables. By following the sample paper, authors can avoid common formatting errors that might delay the submission or acceptance of their work.

4. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal has a clear policy regarding errata, retractions, and corrigenda to maintain the integrity of its published content. Errata are issued when minor errors are identified after publication that do not affect the core findings of the research. Corrigenda are issued when authors identify and correct significant errors in the published article that impact the conclusions but are not sufficient to warrant retraction. A retraction may occur when significant errors, misconduct, or ethical violations are identified, or when the article’s findings are proven to be unreliable. The journal ensures that errata, corrigenda, and retractions are clearly marked and communicated to readers, with a transparent process for handling these issues. In all cases, the journal aims to maintain academic integrity by ensuring that all published work is accurate, credible, and trustworthy.

5. Complaints Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal is committed to addressing any complaints regarding its editorial and publication processes. Authors, reviewers, and readers who wish to raise a complaint regarding any aspect of the journal’s operations, including manuscript handling, peer review, editorial decisions, or ethical concerns, may submit their complaints to the editorial office. Complaints will be handled in a fair, transparent, and timely manner, with a detailed investigation into the matter. The journal follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in managing complaints, ensuring that all parties involved are treated with respect and that the process is conducted professionally. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the editorial team will take appropriate actions, which may include clarifications, corrections, or the retraction of articles, if necessary.

6. Digital Preservation

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal is committed to ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of its published content. The journal partners with digital preservation services such as CLOCKSS and Portico to safeguard its articles and ensure that they remain accessible in the future, even in the event of technical failures or business interruptions. Articles are archived in stable digital repositories and can be accessed by readers worldwide. The journal also encourages authors to submit supplementary materials, such as datasets and multimedia files, to recognized repositories for long-term preservation. By prioritizing digital preservation, the journal ensures that its valuable research contributions are accessible to future generations of researchers, clinicians, and healthcare providers working in palliative care.

7. Copyright Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal upholds strict copyright policies to protect the intellectual property of authors and contributors while promoting open access. Authors retain copyright of their work upon publication, but they grant the journal a license to publish and distribute their research under a Creative Commons license. The most commonly used license is the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows others to share, remix, and build upon the work, as long as proper attribution is given. This open-access model ensures that the research is freely accessible to a global audience, while authors retain the ability to reuse their work in future publications. Authors are encouraged to check their manuscript for any potential copyright infringement, ensuring that all third-party material used is properly cited and cleared for publication.

8. Plagiarism Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal has a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using advanced detection tools, such as Turnitin or iThenticate, to ensure the originality of the work. Authors are expected to submit only original content and must properly cite any work that has influenced their research or contributed to their ideas. If plagiarism is detected, the journal will follow the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to address the issue. This may include rejection of the manuscript, retraction of published work, or a formal investigation of ethical misconduct. The journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and maintaining the trust of its readers and contributors.

9. Rights and Grants to the Author

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal ensures that authors retain the rights to their published works while granting the journal a license to publish and distribute their research. Authors have the right to reuse their work in other publications or projects, provided proper attribution is given to the original publication. The journal also recognizes and supports authorship contributions by ensuring that all authors are correctly listed and that their contributions are acknowledged. Additionally, the journal offers authors opportunities to apply for grants or funding to support their research, and it provides resources to help authors navigate the grant application process. Authors are encouraged to collaborate with their institutions and funding bodies to ensure proper acknowledgment of funding sources and support for their research.

10. APC Waiver Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal offers an Article Processing Charge (APC) waiver policy for authors who may face financial constraints. Authors from low-income countries, or those who can demonstrate a lack of funding for publication fees, may be eligible to have the APC waived or reduced. This policy ensures that financial barriers do not prevent high-quality research from being published in the journal. To apply for an APC waiver, authors must submit a formal request at the time of manuscript submission, along with documentation of their financial situation or a letter from a funding body that confirms no financial support for publication. The editorial board will review each request on a case-by-case basis.

11. Check List

To streamline the submission process and ensure that all manuscripts meet the journal’s requirements, the Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal provides an author checklist. This checklist includes key steps authors must complete before submitting their manuscript, including verifying the originality of the content, ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines, formatting the manuscript according to the journal’s style, and including all required sections such as an abstract, keywords, and references. Authors are also reminded to check for proper ethical approvals for human and animal studies, to confirm the accuracy of all cited references, and to ensure that all conflicts of interest are disclosed. The checklist serves as a helpful guide to ensure that authors submit high-quality manuscripts that meet the journal’s editorial standards.

12. Manuscript Preparation

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal requires all manuscripts to follow specific guidelines to ensure consistency and clarity in published articles. Authors are asked to prepare their manuscripts in a word processing format, adhering to the journal’s style, which includes formatting for title pages, abstract, body text, references, and figures. Manuscripts should be organized into sections, including an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. All references should follow a consistent citation style, as specified in the submission guidelines. The journal also encourages the use of clear and concise language to communicate research findings effectively, particularly since the intended audience includes clinicians and healthcare providers. Authors are advised to submit a cover letter that briefly summarizes the manuscript’s importance and its potential contribution to the field of palliative care.

13. Author’s Agreement Form

Before publication, authors are required to sign an Author’s Agreement Form, which outlines the terms of publication and grants the journal the necessary rights to publish and distribute the manuscript. The form includes clauses related to copyright, licensing, and any potential conflicts of interest. By signing the agreement, authors affirm that the manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, and does not contain any plagiarized material. The agreement also confirms that all authors have approved the manuscript and its submission to the journal. This form serves as a legally binding document that protects both the authors and the journal, ensuring a clear understanding of the terms of publication.

14. Withdrawal Policy

Authors wishing to withdraw a manuscript after submission must notify the editorial office as soon as possible, stating the reasons for withdrawal. The journal acknowledges that withdrawals may occur for various reasons, such as a change in research direction or discovery of an error in the manuscript. If a manuscript is withdrawn before the peer review process begins, no further action will be taken. However, if the manuscript is under review or has been accepted, the withdrawal may result in the manuscript being formally retracted, with all associated ethical considerations addressed. Repeated withdrawals after submission may lead to limitations in future submissions to the journal.

15. Licensing Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal operates under an open access model, where articles are made freely available to readers. Authors grant the journal a license to publish their work under a Creative Commons license, typically the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. This allows others to freely share, remix, and build upon the work, provided proper attribution is given. Authors retain ownership of their copyright but agree to the license terms that enable global access to their research. The licensing policy ensures that published content is widely accessible, supporting the advancement of knowledge in the field of palliative medicine and hospice care.

16. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal requires that authors ensure the confidentiality and privacy of participants or patients involved in their research. Informed consent must be obtained from all participants, and authors must describe the consent process in the manuscript. Any personal identifiers must be removed or anonymized in accordance with ethical guidelines, and sensitive patient data should not be disclosed without explicit consent. The journal adheres to the highest standards of ethical conduct to protect patient privacy and ensure that all research involving human subjects is conducted with respect for their dignity and rights.

17. Open Access Policy

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal is committed to providing open access to all its published articles. This model allows researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals worldwide to access the latest research without financial barriers. Open access ensures that important research findings are disseminated quickly and widely, contributing to better patient care and advancing the science of palliative medicine. Authors are encouraged to deposit their work in institutional repositories and comply with open-access guidelines for maximum visibility and impact.

18. Submission of Manuscript

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal invites authors to submit their manuscripts electronically through the journal’s online submission system. The submission process includes steps for uploading the manuscript file, abstract, cover letter, and any supplementary files such as figures and tables. Authors are required to ensure that their manuscripts meet all formatting guidelines and ethical standards before submission. After submission, manuscripts undergo initial editorial review followed by peer review to assess their scientific quality and relevance to the field.

19. Article Processing Charge (APC)

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal applies an Article Processing Charge (APC) for authors whose articles are accepted for publication. This fee covers the costs of the peer review, editing, and publication process, including open-access distribution. The APC is required for all accepted manuscripts but may be waived in cases of financial hardship or when authors come from low-income countries. The journal is committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent authors from submitting high-quality research.

20. English Language Editing

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care journal provides authors with the option to submit their manuscripts for professional English language editing services before submission or after acceptance. This service helps ensure that manuscripts meet the language standards required for publication and are easily understood by an international audience. While the journal encourages authors to submit manuscripts in clear and correct English, those who require assistance can avail of this service to improve the readability and overall quality of their research.