Research Ethics Policy

Research Ethics Policies

It is essential that studies involving human participants comply with research ethics policies and declare them in the manuscript. If requested by the editors, the following documents must be attached:

  • Informed Consent: Obtain and document informed consent from all participants, including parental or guardian consent for research involving minors.
  • IRB Approval: Obtain approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or an equivalent ethics committee.
  • Anonymity and Confidentiality: Ensure the anonymity and confidentiality of participants throughout all stages of the study.
  • Protection of Vulnerable Populations: Implement additional protective measures for vulnerable populations, such as children, ensuring parental or guardian consent.
  • Ethics Committee: Depending on the nature of the research, if necessary, the researchers must present documents from a properly constituted ethics committee, certifying the correctness and approval of the study.

Additionally, authors must ensure alignment with the Ethical Code of the Declaration of Helsinki (http://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053) or its Spanish version (https://www.wma.net/es/policies-post/declaracion-de-helsinki-de-la-amm-principios-eticos-para-las-investigaciones-medicas-en-seres-humanos/).

The journal adheres to the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), available at: https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/translations/spanish2021.pdf

For randomized clinical trials, authors must have approval from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee (or equivalent according to the country’s regulations), declare funding, and be registered in a public clinical trial registry (e.g., www.clinicaltrials.gov).