Editorial Policy

Section I. Publication

1. By submitting a manuscript to the Journal of Human Care and Occupation (RCOH), authors agree to comply with this Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.
2. All submitted manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer-review process conducted by at least two independent international reviewers who are experts in the corresponding field.
3. The evaluation process is based on scientific quality, originality, relevance, innovation, methodological rigor, significance, and clarity of presentation.
4. The Editorial Board may reach one of the following decisions:
   • Accept.
   • Accept with minor or major revisions.
   • Reject.
5. Peer review does not guarantee acceptance for publication.
6. No manuscript will be rejected without undergoing editorial assessment and peer review.

Section II. Authorship

1. All submitted manuscripts must include a complete and relevant list of references.
2. Authors must acknowledge all financial support or funding received from institutions or organizations that contributed to the research.
3. The title and content of every manuscript must be original. Plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or any other form of scientific misconduct is strictly prohibited.
4. The Journal does not publish manuscripts that substantially duplicate material already published elsewhere.

Section III. Authors' Responsibilities

1. Authors are responsible for ensuring that:
   • The manuscript is original.
   • The work has not been previously published nor submitted simultaneously to another journal.
   • All sources of information are properly cited.
   • All reported data are accurate, authentic, and obtained ethically.
   • All listed authors have made substantial scientific contributions to the research.
2. Authors are also required to:
   • Participate actively in the peer-review process.
   • Submit corrections or retractions whenever necessary.
   • Promptly report any significant errors discovered after publication.
3. Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, academic, or personal conflicts of interest that may influence the manuscript.

Section IV. Reviewers' Responsibilities

1. Peer review must be conducted objectively, fairly, and without personal criticism of the authors.
2. All information contained in the manuscript must be treated as strictly confidential.
3. Reviewers are expected to:
   • Possess the appropriate academic expertise to evaluate the manuscript.
   • Have no conflicts of interest with the research, authors, funding agencies, institutions, or sponsors.
   • Provide clear, objective, constructive, and evidence-based comments.
   • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors and report any substantial similarity between the manuscript and previously published studies.

Section V. Editors' Responsibilities

1. The Editors have full authority and responsibility to accept or reject submitted manuscripts.
2. The Editors are responsible for maintaining the scientific quality and editorial integrity of the Journal.
3. Editors shall:
   • Remain free of conflicts of interest regarding manuscripts under evaluation.
   • Ensure the scientific quality of published manuscripts.
   • Accept manuscripts only when there is sufficient evidence supporting publication.
   • Protect the anonymity of authors and reviewers throughout the editorial process.
   • Ensure compliance with internationally accepted ethical standards.
   • Publish corrections, clarifications, expressions of concern, or retractions whenever appropriate.
4. The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority regarding acceptance or rejection of manuscripts after considering reviewers' recommendations and consulting members of the Editorial Board whenever necessary. Editorial decisions shall be impartial and free from any personal, institutional, political, or financial bias.