Ethical Policy

Ethics and Consent Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Occupational Therapy and Health (PJOTH) upholds the highest standards of ethical conduct in research and publication. All studies involving human participants, human data, or biological materials must comply with internationally recognized ethical principles, including the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant national or institutional guidelines. Authors are expected to ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability throughout the research and publication process.

4.1 Ethical Approval

Research involving human subjects, human tissues, or personal data must be conducted in compliance with ethical principles and must receive prior approval from a recognized Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee. The manuscript must clearly state:

  • The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board
  • The reference or approval number (where applicable)
  • Confirmation that the study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki or equivalent ethical standards

In cases where ethical approval was waived, a justification must be included in the manuscript, specifying the committee that granted the exemption. Authors must be prepared to provide supporting documentation upon editorial request. PJOTH reserves the right to decline manuscripts if the editorial team determines that the research did not meet an acceptable ethical standard. In certain cases, editors may contact the approving ethics committee directly for clarification.

4.2 Retrospective Ethics Approval

PJOTH does not generally accept manuscripts for peer review if ethical approval was not obtained prior to initiating the study. Retrospective approval is typically not considered valid. The decision to proceed with peer review for such submissions rests solely with the Editor-in-Chief and may involve consultation with an internal review group.

4.3 Use of New Clinical Tools or Procedures

Manuscripts reporting the introduction or testing of a novel clinical tool, technique, or intervention must provide a strong, evidence-based justification for its use over established practices. This includes:

  • A rationale for clinical relevance and patient benefit
  • Documentation of ethical approval (where applicable)
  • Confirmation of informed consent from patients or participants

Such justification is not required if the procedure is already recognized and authorized for clinical use at the author’s affiliated institution. However, any experimental use of unapproved tools or methods must be accompanied by evidence of ethics committee approval and informed patient consent, especially when clinical superiority was not established prior to intervention.

4.4 Consent to Participate

All research involving human participants must include documented informed consent from participants. In the case of minors (under 16 years), consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian. The manuscript should include a statement confirming that:

  • Informed consent was obtained from each participant
  • The study respected the rights, dignity, and autonomy of all individuals involved
  • Ethical considerations for vulnerable populations (e.g., unconscious patients, prisoners) were appropriately addressed

In situations involving individuals with diminished autonomy or heightened vulnerability, the editorial team may request further ethical scrutiny and documentation before considering the manuscript for publication. Authors must also declare that no human biological materials or organs were obtained from prisoners, and must name the institutions that supplied such materials if applicable.

4.5 Consent for Publication

For all manuscripts containing identifiable personal information—whether in the form of images, videos, or clinical narratives—authors must obtain written, informed consent for publication from the individual, or from their legal guardian if the subject is under 18. If the individual is deceased, consent must be obtained from the next of kin.

Consent documentation must include a clear explanation that the material will be published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) and will be freely available online, accessible by the general public. This consent must be documented in the manuscript with a statement such as:

“Written informed consent for publication of personal information and images was obtained and is available upon request.”

Authors may use consent forms issued by their own institutions, provided that they meet the journal’s transparency requirements. These forms must be available for editorial inspection upon request and will be handled confidentially.

If all identifying features are completely removed and the individual cannot reasonably be recognized, formal consent for publication may not be required. However, the final decision regarding the necessity of consent remains at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.