Allegations of Misconduct
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity. Allegations of misconduct, such as plagiarism, data falsification or fabrication, improper authorship, and other unethical behaviors, are taken seriously and are addressed promptly.
Parties wishing to report misconduct should use the 'Contact Us' page on our website. The editorial board will promptly initiate an investigation into all allegations. All reports of potential misconduct are directed to a secure email accessible only by the Editor-in-Chief, ensuring strict confidentiality.
Our editorial team is responsible for assessing any reported allegations of misconduct, ensuring a confidential and impartial process. When a concern is raised, we conduct a thorough preliminary investigation to evaluate the claim. This may involve communication with the author(s), reviewers, and relevant experts in the field to gather evidence and perspectives. Authors are afforded the opportunity to respond to any allegations.
Should the evidence suggest that misconduct has occurred, appropriate corrective measures will be implemented, which may include issuing corrections, retractions, or notifications to the relevant institutions and funding bodies. In cases where plagiarism or data fabrication is confirmed, the journal reserves the right to retract the article and ban the offending author(s) from future submissions. We aim to resolve issues in a timely manner while maintaining fairness and transparency throughout the process. Our commitment to ensuring the integrity of the scientific record is paramount, and all parties are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards.
Appeals Process
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery values transparency and fairness in the editorial decision-making process. If an author believes that their manuscript has been unjustly rejected or they disagree with specific editorial decisions, they have the right to submit an appeal. Appeals must be made in writing within 2 weeks from the date of rejection and should clearly outline the reasons for contesting the decision, including any new evidence or overlooked points that may support the author's position.
Upon receiving an appeal, the editorial team will review the case thoroughly. Appeals are reviewed by editorial board members without conflicts of interest. This may involve consulting the original reviewers, seeking additional expert opinions, or engaging in further discussions with the author to ensure all aspects are fairly considered. Possible outcomes include upholding the original decision or accepting the manuscript for further review. The final decision on an appeal will be made by the editor-in-chief or an appointed representative. We are committed to resolving appeals in a timely and unbiased manner, while maintaining the integrity and quality of the journal.
Complaints Process
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery is dedicated to maintaining a professional and respectful relationship with authors, reviewers, and readers. We understand that concerns or complaints may arise regarding the editorial process, peer review, or other aspects of the journal. Authors who wish to submit a complaint should do so in writing, clearly detailing the issue at hand. Complaints may involve matters such as delays in review, perceived bias, or errors in editorial handling.
Once a complaint is received, it will be promptly acknowledged. We aim to acknowledge and respond to all complaints within 1 week of receipt. The complaint will be assessed by the editorial team. Depending on the nature of the complaint, it may be escalated to the editor-in-chief or, if necessary, an independent committee for further review. We are committed to addressing all complaints impartially and professionally, ensuring that the matter is handled transparently and fairly. Complainants will receive a response as soon as the review process is completed, and appropriate actions will be taken if the complaint is upheld.
Conflicts of Interest
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery is committed to maintaining the integrity of the editorial process by addressing potential conflicts of interest among editors, authors, and reviewers. All participants involved in the submission, review, and publication of manuscripts are required to disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their objectivity or decision-making.
Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:
- Financial relationships with commercial entities related to the research
- Personal relationships with authors, competitors, or enemies
- Academic competition or intellectual beliefs that could interfere with objective evaluation
Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest. Authors are expected to disclose any potential conflicts related to funding, affiliations, or other interests that could affect the integrity of their work. Reviewers, too, are required to notify the journal if they identify any conflicts that may impair their ability to provide an impartial review.
The journal employs strict policies to manage and mitigate conflicts of interest, ensuring that such matters are addressed transparently and ethically. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest may result in corrective actions, including retractions or editorial notices. All disclosures will be published alongside the article to provide transparency to readers.
Peer Review Process
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery employs a rigorous peer review process to ensure the publication of high-quality and impactful research. Manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo an initial assessment by the editorial team to determine suitability based on the journal's scope and standards. Once deemed appropriate, the manuscript is assigned to expert reviewers in the relevant field for a thorough and objective evaluation. The journal follows a double-blind peer review system, where both parties remain anonymous.
Reviewers are tasked with assessing the manuscript's originality, methodological rigor, ethical standards, and the relevance of the findings to the field of trauma and emergency surgery. The reviewers' comments and recommendations guide the editorial decision, which may result in acceptance, revision, or rejection of the manuscript. Authors are provided with detailed feedback to help improve their work, even in cases of rejection. The peer review process is designed to be transparent, fair, and timely, ensuring that both authors and reviewers are treated with respect throughout the evaluation.
Our journal accepts submissions of manuscripts that have been previously shared on preprint servers. However, authors must disclose any preprint versions during the submission process. The final published version in our journal will be considered the version of record.
Code of Conduct
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery adheres to a strict Code of Conduct designed to uphold ethical practices and maintain the highest standards in academic publishing. This code encompasses all aspects of our editorial, peer review, and publication processes, ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability. All parties involved—authors, reviewers, editors, and staff—are expected to act with integrity, respect, and professionalism.
In addition to compliance with our own ethical policies, the journal also follows external codes of conduct set by recognized international bodies, including regulations surrounding the responsible conduct of research, the protection of patient privacy, and the ethical treatment of human and animal subjects. The journal also actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its operations, striving to foster an environment that is free from discrimination or bias. Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in sanctions, such as withdrawal of submissions or exclusion from future participation in the journal.
Authorship Criteria
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery adheres to clear and transparent criteria for authorship, ensuring that only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research are credited as authors. Authorship is based on the following criteria: substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; drafting or critically revising the manuscript for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. All authors must be accountable for the integrity of the work, ensuring that any questions related to accuracy or integrity are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Contributors who do not meet the full criteria for authorship, such as those involved in funding acquisition, data collection, or general supervision, should be listed in the acknowledgments section rather than as authors. It is the responsibility of the corresponding author to ensure that all listed authors meet these criteria and that no eligible contributors are omitted.
Authorship disputes are taken seriously by our journal. If a dispute arises after submission:
-The corresponding author must notify the journal immediately.
-All listed authors will be contacted for their perspective.
-If necessary, the authors' institution(s) may be asked to investigate.
-Publication may be halted until the dispute is resolved.
-Any changes to authorship require written agreement from all authors, including those being removed.
Copyright Guidelines
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery is committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of authors while facilitating the dissemination of high-quality research. Upon acceptance of a manuscript, authors are required to transfer the copyright of their work to the journal. This transfer grants the journal the exclusive rights to publish, distribute, and reproduce the work in all forms and formats, including online and print editions.
Authors retain the right to use their work for personal, non-commercial purposes, such as academic presentations, teaching, and inclusion in their institutional repositories. Any other uses, including commercial reproduction or distribution, must be authorized by the journal. The journal also supports open access publication, and authors may be provided with options to license their work under Creative Commons or similar licenses to increase accessibility.
To ensure transparency, all authors are provided with detailed information about their rights and obligations under the copyright agreement. Requests for permission to use the work beyond what is covered by the journal's license can be submitted through the journal's website.
Data Sharing Policy
We encourage authors to share their research data to promote transparency and reproducibility. Authors should state their data availability in their manuscript, including links to repositories where applicable. For sensitive data, authors should explain any restrictions on availability.
Corrections and Retractions
If errors are identified post-publication:
- Minor errors may be corrected with a published erratum.
- For significant errors that undermine the conclusions, we may issue a correction or, in severe cases, a retraction.
- Authors will be consulted during this process, but the final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief.
- All corrections and retractions will be clearly linked to the original article.
Data Repository
The Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery is dedicated to promoting transparency and reproducibility in research by encouraging the use of data repositories. For research data associated with published articles, we utilize Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to ensure that datasets are easily accessible and properly attributed. Authors are encouraged to deposit their data in reputable repositories that support DOI assignment, allowing for permanent and reliable access to their datasets.
By assigning DOIs to datasets, we facilitate the long-term preservation and citation of research data, enhancing the visibility and impact of the work. This practice also supports the broader scientific community by providing access to the underlying data that informs published findings. Authors should include a link to the data repository and DOI in their manuscript to ensure that readers can access and verify the data.