APSSHS Publications is committed to upholding strict standards of publication ethics. Any study involving human participants, human-derived materials, or identifiable personal data must comply with relevant institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines, and must receive formal ethics approval before the study begins.
Human Research Ethics
Studies involving human participants, personal data, or identifiable information must comply with applicable institutional, national, and international research ethics standards for human-subjects research.
Before starting the study, authors must obtain approval from a recognized Institutional Review Board (IRB) or an equivalent ethics committee. The manuscript should clearly state the name of the approving committee and, where applicable, the reference number.
The publisher may request supporting documentation of ethics approval and may contact the authors' institution at any stage — during review or after publication — to verify this information.
Informed Consent
Written informed consent must be obtained from all participants before they take part in a study. If participants are minors, unable to give consent, or otherwise legally incapacitated, consent must instead be obtained from a legally authorized representative, in line with applicable regulations.
Where a study includes identifiable personal data, explicit consent for publication must also be obtained, where required.
Manuscripts must include a clear statement confirming that informed consent was obtained.
Vulnerable Populations
Studies involving vulnerable groups — such as minors, individuals with cognitive or psychological impairments, or institutionalized individuals — require additional ethical justification and safeguards.
Authors should clearly explain:
Why the inclusion of vulnerable participants was necessary?
How informed consent or assent was obtained
What measures were taken to protect participants' privacy, dignity, and rights
Any further oversight required by institutional ethics committees
Compliance and Verification
APSSHS Publications reserves the right to reject manuscripts that do not demonstrate adequate ethical approval or informed consent. If ethical misconduct is suspected, the publisher may launch an investigation in line with COPE guidelines and may contact the relevant institutions or regulatory bodies.
