Ethical Principles and Publication Policy

The Middle Eastern and North African Journal of Dentistry & Oral Sciences (MENA-JDOS)

The Middle Eastern and North African Journal of Dentistry & Oral Sciences (MENA-JDOS) is committed to the highest standards of research integrity, publication ethics, and academic excellence. Our policies follow the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and global best practices in dental and biomedical publishing.

1. Peer Review Policy

  • All submissions undergo double-blind peer review to ensure fairness and objectivity.

  • Manuscripts are first screened for originality, quality, and compliance with journal scope.

  • At least two independent reviewers evaluate each eligible manuscript for novelty, scientific rigor, and ethical compliance.

  • Editorial decisions are based on reviewers’ recommendations and the Editor-in-Chief’s judgment.

2. Plagiarism & Misconduct

  • All manuscripts are screened with plagiarism detection software.

  • Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or image manipulation will result in rejection.

  • If discovered after publication, the journal may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, following COPE procedures.

3. Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence interpretation of the work.

  • A statement of conflicts of interest must be included in every submission.

  • If none exist, authors should state: “Conflicts of Interest: None declared.”

4. Data Sharing & Transparency

  • Authors must provide a Data Availability Statement, specifying where datasets, code, or supplementary material can be accessed (e.g., repositories, institutional servers).

  • Sensitive clinical data must be anonymized and handled in compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and local regulations.

5. Ethical Approval & Patient Consent

  • Research involving humans or animals must include:

    • Approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.

    • Informed consent for studies involving identifiable participants.

    • Compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant dental/medical ethical codes.

  • Clinical trials must include a registration number from a recognized registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN).

6. Authorship Policy

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions, including:

  • Study conception and design.

  • Data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation.

  • Drafting or revising the manuscript critically.

  • Final approval of the version to be published.

All authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission.

7. Corrections, Retractions & Editorial Actions

  • Corrections: For minor errors not affecting study conclusions.

  • Retractions: For major errors or proven misconduct.

  • Editorial expressions of concern may be issued during investigations.

8. Copyright & Open Access

  • MENA-JDOS is a fully open-access journal.

  • Articles are published under a Creative Commons license (CC BY or CC BY-NC).

  • Authors retain copyright while granting the journal the right to publish and disseminate their work.

9. Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts, peer review reports, and editorial communications are treated as strictly confidential.

  • Editors and reviewers may not share, use, or discuss unpublished material without permission.

10. Compliance Statement

By submitting to MENA-JDOS, authors affirm that their manuscript:

  • Is original and not under consideration elsewhere.

  • Complies with all ethical, authorship, and data transparency requirements.

  • Adheres to this publication policy in full.