Publication Ethics

The Journal of Lifestyle Medicine Coaches and Wellness (JLCW) adheres strictly to international standards of publication ethics and malpractice prevention. The journal follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in all stages of the publication process.

1. Editorial Ethics
   Editors are responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of the journal’s publications. They must:

• • Make publication decisions based solely on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope
  • Ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation process without discrimination based on gender, race, religion, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs
  • Maintain confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related information
  • Avoid using unpublished materials for personal research without the author’s explicit consent
  • Take appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism, data falsification, or unethical research practices
  • Manage complaints and ethical disputes in a transparent and systematic manner

2. Reviewer Ethics
   Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality of published research. They are expected to:

• • Conduct reviews objectively, constructively, and in a timely manner
  • Maintain strict confidentiality of manuscripts and not share or use information for personal advantage
  • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors
  • Report any suspicion of plagiarism, duplicate publication, or ethical concerns to the editor
  • Decline review if there is any conflict of interest with the authors or the research

3. Author Ethics
   Authors are accountable for the integrity and accuracy of their work. They must:

• • Submit original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere
  • Properly cite all sources and avoid plagiarism in any form
  • Ensure that data presented are accurate, not fabricated, falsified, or selectively reported
  • Include as authors only those who have made significant contributions to the work
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence the research
  • Respond appropriately to reviewers’ comments and revise the manuscript accordingly

4. Human and Animal Research Ethics
   Research involving human participants or animals must comply with recognized ethical standards:

• • Studies involving humans must obtain approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee and include informed consent from participants
  • Authors must respect participants’ rights, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality
  • Animal studies must comply with internationally accepted guidelines for animal welfare and minimize suffering
  • The manuscript must clearly state the ethical approval number and relevant institutional approval
  • Manuscripts lacking proper ethical approval will not be considered for publication

5. AI Ethics Policy
   The journal recognizes the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic writing and research. Therefore:

• • AI tools may be used for language editing, formatting, or preliminary assistance
  • AI must not be used to generate core scholarly content without critical human oversight
  • Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in the manuscript when applicable
  • AI cannot be listed as an author or co-author
  • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work