Ethics Committee Approval and Patient Consent
Scholaria International Journal of Research, published by Scholaria Publications, is committed to responsible research practices, the protection of research participants, and compliance with applicable ethical and regulatory requirements. Authors submitting research involving human participants, identifiable personal information, patient records, or animals must ensure that the research has been conducted in accordance with the relevant ethical standards and institutional requirements.
1. Research Involving Human Participants
Research involving human participants must receive approval from an appropriately constituted Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), Institutional Review Board (IRB), or equivalent research ethics body before the research begins, wherever required by applicable regulations and ethical standards.
Authors must provide the name of the approving committee, the approval reference number, and the approval date in the manuscript where applicable. The editorial office may request supporting documentation to verify compliance.
Where formal ethics approval is not required or an exemption has been granted, authors should provide the basis for the exemption and relevant documentation when requested. Authors must not independently claim an exemption when a determination by an authorized ethics body is required.
2. Patient Consent and Informed Consent
Authors conducting research involving human participants must obtain informed consent where required by applicable ethical standards and regulations. Participants should receive appropriate information about the research and their participation before consent is obtained.
For clinical research, patient studies, and the use of identifiable patient information, authors must comply with the applicable consent, confidentiality, and data protection requirements.
For case reports, clinical photographs, medical images, or other materials that could identify an individual, authors must obtain the specific consent required for publication whenever applicable. Identifying details should be removed unless their inclusion is necessary, appropriately authorized, and permitted by applicable requirements.
3. Clinical Trials and Clinical Research
Authors reporting clinical trials must provide relevant trial registration information when registration is required by applicable standards or regulations. The manuscript should identify the trial registration number and registry where applicable.
Authors must describe the relevant ethics approval, informed consent procedures, and other applicable safeguards in the manuscript.
4. Research Involving Animals
Research involving live animals must comply with applicable animal welfare legislation, institutional requirements, and recognized ethical principles for the humane treatment of animals.
Where required, authors must obtain prior approval from the appropriate Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) or equivalent authorized body. The manuscript should identify the approving body and provide the relevant approval details.
Authors should explain measures taken to minimize animal suffering and describe relevant procedures for housing, handling, anesthesia, pain management, and humane endpoints where applicable.
5. Retrospective Studies and Secondary Data
Studies involving existing medical records, previously collected human data, biological samples, or secondary datasets must comply with applicable ethics, consent, privacy, and data protection requirements.
Where ethics approval or a formal exemption determination is required, authors should provide the relevant details. Authors must explain how confidentiality was protected and how data were accessed and used lawfully.
6. Privacy and Confidentiality
Authors must protect the privacy and confidentiality of research participants and patients. Names, photographs, medical record details, and other potentially identifying information must not be disclosed without the necessary authorization and appropriate safeguards.
Consent forms containing personal or sensitive information should not be included in publicly accessible supplementary materials. Supporting documentation should be submitted through an appropriate confidential channel when requested.
7. Ethical Declarations in Manuscripts
Where applicable, manuscripts should include an ethics statement identifying the approving committee, approval reference number, approval date, and informed consent arrangements. Authors should also disclose any applicable exemption determination and relevant participant protection measures.
The editorial office may request additional information or supporting documents when necessary to assess compliance. Submissions that do not meet applicable ethical requirements may be returned for clarification or declined.
8. Authors' Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for the accuracy of their ethical declarations and for obtaining all required approvals and permissions before conducting the relevant research. Ethics approval must not be obtained retrospectively as a substitute for required prior approval.
The journal may investigate credible concerns regarding research ethics and take appropriate action in accordance with its publication ethics procedures.
9. Contact Information
Questions regarding ethics approval, informed consent, patient confidentiality, or animal research requirements may be directed to the journal's editorial office.
Publisher: Scholaria Publications
Location: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
Email: editor@scholariajournal.org