Publication Ethics
Research integrity is a fundamental cornerstone of the publication standards of the Thai journal of Trauma. For new research projects involving human subjects, starting from January 1, 2025, authors are required to submit a photocopy of an approval document from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC).
For research projects involving human subjects that began before January 1, 2025, and do not have an approval document from IRB or IEC, authors must convince the editorial board that the research does not violate any ethical concerns for research participants.
For research projects involving animal subjects, the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement guide ethical decision-making, requiring researchers to demonstrate the necessity of their study and to focus on minimizing suffering and using alternative methods when possible.
If there are suspicions that the research was not conducted within an appropriate ethical framework, or if research misconduct is discovered, such as Protocol violation, Data falsification and fabrication, copyright infringement, or plagiarism, the editor has the right to reject the manuscript, including retracting articles related to such research, and may inform third parties, such as the ethics committee of the author's institution or the author's institution.
Ethics of Authors
1. The authors should follow The Journal guidelines.
2. The authors must be aware the falsification or inappropriate data manipulation of the information are unethical author behaviors, and must be able to provide research data if the editor see the necessity.
3. The authors must disclose the financial support and conflicts of interest that might have influenced the data and/or interpretations of data. Potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed when the manuscript is submitted.
4. The authors must ensure that they have written entirely original manuscript and the manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not currently in the publication process in any journals
Ethics of Reviewers
1. The reviewers must maintain confidentiality and impartiality, treating the manuscript as a confidential document and conducting the review in an unbiased manner, free from personal bias or conflicts of interest. They must not disclose unpublished content or use the information for personal benefit.
2. The reviewers must immediately inform the editorial office when they find that the submitted manuscript is outside their area of expertise and must excuse themselves from being the reviewer.
3. The reviewers must provide professional suggestions based on scientific principles, research methodology, and the significance of the research, while avoiding personal criticism.
4. The reviewers must maintain research integrity. They have an ethical responsibility to identify research misconduct, such as data fabrication, data falsification, or plagiarism, and must report serious concerns to the editor with supporting evidence.
5. Reviewers must have respect and fairness, free from discrimination. Reviewers must submit reviews on time, and maintain the highest standards of academic integrity.
Ethics of Editors
1. Editors must approach manuscript evaluation with complete objectivity, free from personal, commercial, or professional biases, regardless of the authors' background, institutional affiliation, or the ethnicity origin.
2. All submitted manuscripts are confidential documents. The editors shall not share the information about the submissions to anyone except the authors, reviewers, and The Journal staffs throughout the process(es).
3. Editors must proactively identify and manage potential conflicts of interest. This includes disclosing any personal, financial, or academic relationships that might influence editorial decisions. When a conflict of interest is identified, editors should recuse themselves or implement additional oversight to ensure fair evaluation.
4. Editors have a fundamental responsibility to detect and address research misconduct. This includes vigilant screening for plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and other unethical research practices. When misconduct is suspected or identified, editors must follow established protocols for investigation and potential retraction.
5. Publication decisions must be based on the scientific validity of the research, its methodological rigor, and the content is appropriate for the type and specialization of the journal in which it is published. Editors should provide clear, constructive feedback to authors and ensure a fair, transparent review process.
