Introduction

Editors play a critical role in maintaining the quality, integrity, and scientific standards of Dialogues in Cardiovascular Medicine (DCM). The Editorial Board is responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts are evaluated fairly, efficiently, and according to the highest standards of scholarly publishing.

Editors are expected to uphold ethical principles, maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process, and make decisions based solely on the scientific merit of submitted work.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are expected to:

• Conduct an initial assessment of submitted manuscripts.
• Evaluate the relevance of submissions to the journal's aims and scope.
• Ensure that manuscripts meet basic scientific and ethical standards.
• Select qualified and independent reviewers.
• Oversee the peer-review process.
• Make editorial decisions based on reviewer recommendations and scientific merit.
• Request revisions when necessary.
• Recommend acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.
• Maintain the quality and integrity of published content.

Editorial Decision-Making

Editorial decisions should be based on:

• Scientific quality and originality.
• Methodological rigor.
• Ethical compliance.
• Relevance to cardiovascular medicine.
• Clarity and quality of presentation.
• Contribution to existing knowledge.

Editors should not be influenced by the authors' nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, ethnicity, religion, or personal characteristics.

Confidentiality

Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.

Editors should not:

• Share manuscript content with unauthorized individuals.
• Use unpublished information for personal research or gain.
• Disclose reviewer identities unless permitted by journal policy.

Conflict of Interest

Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have:

• Personal relationships with authors.
• Financial interests related to the manuscript.
• Professional collaborations that may compromise objectivity.
• Any other circumstance that may create a perceived or actual conflict of interest.

In such cases, the manuscript should be assigned to another editor.

Peer Review Management

Editors are responsible for:

• Selecting reviewers with appropriate expertise.
• Monitoring reviewer performance and timeliness.
• Ensuring constructive and professional reviews.
• Addressing concerns regarding reviewer bias or misconduct.
• Making balanced decisions based on reviewer comments and editorial judgment.

Publication Ethics

Editors should actively promote publication ethics and take appropriate action when concerns arise regarding:

• Plagiarism
• Duplicate publication
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Image manipulation
• Unethical research practices
• Authorship disputes

Where necessary, editors may request additional documentation or clarification from authors.

Corrections and Retractions

Editors may recommend corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when significant issues affecting the integrity of a published article are identified.

Such decisions should be guided by established publication ethics principles and supported by appropriate evidence.

Editorial Independence

Editors are expected to exercise independent editorial judgment without interference from authors, sponsors, institutions, or other external parties.

Editorial decisions must be made solely on the basis of scholarly merit and the journal's standards.

Professional Conduct

Editors should:

• Act fairly and impartially.
• Communicate professionally with authors and reviewers.
• Respect confidentiality.
• Maintain transparency throughout the editorial process.
• Promote ethical and responsible research practices.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the journal.

Contact

Editors requiring assistance regarding editorial procedures or journal operations may contact the editorial office through the appropriate communication channels provided by the journal.