The Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia (ABC Cardiol) are committed to adhering to the highest ethical standards in all their editorial operations. Our ethical guidelines follow the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

Additionally, we recognize the importance of incorporating ethical research policies that specifically address studies involving vulnerable populations, ensuring that such research is conducted ethically and responsibly. These policies are encouraged in the production of the journal’s published content, demonstrating our commitment to integrity and social responsibility.

We also emphasize our focus on respecting the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in all our editorial activities. We believe it is essential to include and value diverse perspectives and experiences in our editorial process, thereby promoting an inclusive and equitable environment for authors, reviewers, and readers.

Below are some key points of our ethical guidelines:

 

DUTIES OF EDITORS

 

1. Publication Decisions

    • The decision to publish an article must be based on its scientific merit and relevance, following the journal’s policies and applicable legal guidelines.
    • Editors may consult editorial boards or academic societies for additional guidance, but the final decision must be independent and impartial.

2. Peer Review

    • The review process must be fair and impartial, selecting reviewers with relevant expertise and without personal biases.
    • Editors must ensure that reviewers represent diverse perspectives and experiences in the research field.

3. Impartiality

    • Manuscripts must be evaluated based on intellectual content and research quality, without regard to authors’ institutional affiliation or prestige.
    • There must be a clear mechanism for authors to appeal editorial decisions, and editors should respond to such appeals transparently and fairly.

4. Journal Metrics

    • Editors must avoid practices that could artificially manipulate journal metrics, such as requiring authors to cite articles from the same journal to boost its impact factor.
    • Journal promotion should be based on content quality and editorial integrity, not tactics that artificially inflate metrics.

5. Confidentiality

    • Editors must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and communications with reviewers, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to this information.
    • Confidentiality may be breached only in cases of misconduct investigation, and even then, with extreme care to protect the privacy of those involved.

6. Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-Assisted Technologies

    • Editors must not upload manuscripts into generative AI tools to protect the confidentiality and copyrights of submitted works.
    • The use of generative AI to assist in evaluation or editorial decisions is restricted to ensure the process remains under human and ethical control.

7. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

    • Editors must regularly update their declarations of conflicts of interest and ensure that any new conflicts are communicated and appropriately managed.
    • Editors must not participate in the review of articles related to their own interests or research.

8. Oversight of Published Record

    • Editors must review and investigate any allegations of misconduct or issues with published articles.
    • When necessary, editors must coordinate the publication of corrections or retractions to address errors or irregularities in previously published articles.

 

DUTIES OF REVIEWERS

 

1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

    • Reviewers must provide a critical and constructive assessment of manuscripts, assisting the editor in making informed publication decisions.
    • If a reviewer feels unqualified to assess the research, they should promptly inform the editor to designate another reviewer.

2. Confidentiality

    • Manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents, and reviewers must not share or discuss their content with third parties without authorization.
    • If reviewers consider it necessary to discuss the manuscript with colleagues, they must obtain the editor’s permission and ensure that all involved comply with confidentiality standards.

3. Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

    • Reviewers must not upload manuscripts into generative AI tools to protect the confidentiality and copyrights of the works.
    • Reviewers should use generative AI cautiously and only to support scientific review, maintaining ultimate responsibility for the report’s content.

4. Alerting Ethical Issues

    • Reviewers must alert the editor to any ethical or integrity issues, such as substantial overlap with other publications or improper use of data.
    • Reviewers must also identify and request citation of relevant works that the manuscript may have overlooked.

5. Objectivity Standards and Conflicts of Interest

    • Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively, avoiding personal biases.
    • Reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest that could affect their ability to impartially review the manuscript.

 

DUTIES OF AUTHORS

 

1. Reporting Standards

    • Authors must report their methods and results accurately and clearly, providing sufficient details to allow replication of the research.
    • Works that reflect the authors’ personal opinions must be clearly identified as such, to distinguish them from original research and reviews.

2. Access to and Retention of Data

    • Authors are encouraged to share research data for editorial review and with other researchers, as necessary, to ensure transparency and reproducibility.
    • Whenever possible, authors should keep data accessible after publication, following the journal’s guidelines.

3. Originality and Source Acknowledgment

    • All work and ideas from other authors must be properly cited, and plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
    • Private information obtained during research must not be used without permission and must be treated confidentially.

4. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

    • Authors must avoid publishing identical results in more than one journal unless this is clearly indicated and justified.
    • In some cases, it is permitted, but the primary publication must be cited, and the context must be clearly explained.

5. Confidentiality

    • Authors must protect information obtained during the submission and review process and not disclose it without authorization.

6. Article Authorship

    • All significant contributors to the work must be listed as co-authors, while minor contributions should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section.
    • All co-authors must review and approve the final manuscript version before submission.

7. Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Scientific Writing

    • Generative AI may be used to improve the readability and clarity of manuscripts but must be supervised by humans and cannot replace the intellectual work of the authors.
    • The use of AI in the manuscript must be disclosed, and AI must not be listed as an author or co-author.

8. Use of AI Tools in Figures and Images

    • Authors are permitted to use AI to create or modify images and figures in submitted manuscripts, provided the usage is disclosed at the end of the manuscript.

 

DUTIES OF THE PUBLISHER

 

1. Academic Record

    • The publisher acts as a custodian of the academic record, ensuring that published work is of high quality and that the review process is fair and transparent.
    • This includes implementing policies to ensure the integrity of the editorial process and resolving any issues of misconduct or plagiarism.

2. Policies of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC)

    • The SBC, as the publisher, commits to maintaining the integrity of the academic record, avoiding commercial interests from influencing editorial decisions.
    • Adherence to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) recommendations and the use of Crossref to verify originality are examples of how SBC seeks to maintain quality and transparency.
    • SBC provides technical and educational support for editors and researchers, including training on publication ethics and review practices.

3. Conflicts of Interest for ABC Cardiol Editors

    • Editors must declare any conflicts of interest that may influence their decisions. This includes disclosing financial or personal interests related to the articles they are evaluating.
    • Editors are prohibited from reviewing their own articles in the journal they edit and must ensure that any conflict of interest is managed transparently.
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