Editorial Policies

The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry (JKCD) upholds the highest standards of editorial independence, integrity, and transparency. These standards ensure that all editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of submitted work, free from external influence, bias, or commercial interests.

  1. Editorial Structure and Governance

JKCD operates under a transparent editorial governance framework that aligns with the principles of COPE, WAME, and DOAJ.

  • The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over editorial content and decision-making, including acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.
  • The Editorial Board supports the Editor-in-Chief by overseeing peer review, maintaining publication quality, and ensuring adherence to ethical policies.
  • Publisher/Institutional oversight is limited to administrative and financial functions and does not influence editorial decisions.
  • Any concerns about editorial conduct or conflicts of interest are handled through a structured complaints process.
  1. Editorial Board Responsibilities

Editorial Board members play a vital role in maintaining the scholarly integrity of JKCD. All members are expected to:

  • Uphold the journal’s mission, ethical policies, and quality standards.
  • Review manuscripts within their field of expertise or nominate qualified reviewers when needed.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding all submitted material.
  • Declare conflicts of interest related to any manuscript under consideration.
  • Provide constructive, unbiased, and timely feedback to improve the quality of submissions.
  • Support diversity and inclusivity in authorship and peer review.
  • Serve as ambassadors of the journal and promote responsible scholarship.
  1. Reviewer Responsibilities and Ethical Conduct

All peer reviewers are expected to follow COPE’s Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. Reviewers must:

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively, confidentially, and within the agreed timeframe.
  • Avoid personal criticism and provide constructive comments that assist authors in improving their work.
  • Decline review invitations when conflicts of interest exist or if the reviewer feels unqualified.
  • Refrain from using unpublished data, findings, or ideas obtained through the review process for personal or professional advantage.
  • Inform the editor promptly if they suspect ethical misconduct, plagiarism, or data manipulation.
  1. Handling Conflicts Among Editors and Reviewers

To preserve fairness and transparency, JKCD follows a defined mechanism for managing conflicts:

  • Editors and reviewers must declare any real or perceived conflicts related to a submission (e.g., professional rivalry, financial interests, personal relationships).
  • When a conflict is identified:
    • The Editor-in-Chief will reassign the manuscript to another editor without any connection to the case.
    • If the Editor-in-Chief is conflicted, the manuscript will be handled by a Senior Associate Editor or Editorial Advisory Member.
  • All conflict-handling procedures are documented to ensure accountability.
  • COPE’s flowcharts on conflict resolution are used as reference standards.
  1. Policy on Special Issues, Supplements, and Sponsored Content
  • JKCD may publish special issues, supplements, or sponsored content only under strict editorial supervision.
  • Such content must meet the same peer review and ethical standards as regular issues.
  • Sponsorship or commercial support will never influence editorial decisions, peer review, or acceptance criteria.
  • A clear disclaimer will be published indicating any financial or institutional support.
  • Editors and reviewers handling sponsored submissions must declare and avoid any potential conflicts.
  1. Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

JKCD is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion across all stages of the publication process.

  • The journal actively seeks participation from underrepresented groups in its editorial board, reviewer pool, and author community.
  • Decisions on publication are made solely on scientific merit, without bias based on gender, ethnicity, religion, geography, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs.
  • The journal encourages research addressing health disparities, regional challenges, and global perspectives in dentistry.
  • JKCD continuously evaluates its editorial processes to ensure inclusivity and equitable opportunities for all contributors.