The Scientific Health Care Record

Aims and Scope:

Scientific Health Care Record publishes a wide range of scholarly contributions, including original research articles, systematic and narrative reviews, case reports, short communications, and correspondence. The journal encourages submissions that explore fundamental, translational, and clinical aspects of health and disease, particularly in areas such as clinical microbiology, immunology, pathophysiology, genetics, epidemiology, molecular biology, and genomic sciences.

With a strong emphasis on public and global health, SHCR aims to support research that addresses emerging and re-emerging diseases, health disparities, healthcare systems, and preventive strategies. The journal actively promotes interdisciplinary and collaborative research that contributes to improving population health and strengthening healthcare delivery worldwide.

By maintaining rigorous peer-review standards and ethical publishing practices, Scientific Health Care Record strives to ensure the integrity, transparency, and scientific merit of all published content. The journal is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, encouraging innovation, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge that can translate into meaningful improvements in patient care and public health outcomes.

Through its open-access model, SHCR ensures unrestricted access to scientific information, enabling researchers and practitioners across the globe to benefit from and contribute to the advancement of healthcare science.

 

Publication Policy:

Publication Ethics and Research Integrity: All manuscripts submitted to The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR) must comply with established ethical standards in research and publication.

Authors are required to include a clear ethics approval statement in their manuscript, specifying the name of the approving institution and the approval number, where applicable, for studies involving human participants or animals. All research must follow the ethical principles outlined in the 2013 revision of the Declaration of Helsinki.

The privacy and confidentiality of study participants must be strictly maintained. Personal identifiers such as names, initials, or hospital registration numbers should not be included in any publication. For animal studies, authors must confirm adherence to institutional, national, or international guidelines governing animal care and use.

Authors may be asked to provide documented evidence of ethical approval when requested. The Methods section must clearly indicate whether informed consent was obtained from all participants. Manuscripts that fail to meet ethical requirements will not be considered for publication.

Policy on Research and Publication Misconduct

The Editorial Board of SHCR is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity. All submissions are carefully monitored for potential misconduct, including:

• Plagiarism
• Duplicate or redundant publication
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Manipulation of images or figures
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Improper changes in authorship

In cases of suspected misconduct, the journal follows the principles and procedures recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Appropriate actions will be taken based on COPE guidelines.

Post-Publication Retraction Policy

The Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to retract published articles under the following circumstances:

• When findings are proven to be unreliable due to errors, misconduct, or data manipulation
• When substantial portions of the work have been published previously without proper acknowledgment
• When plagiarism is detected
• When unethical research practices are identified

Retractions are issued to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record.

Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors must disclose any financial or non-financial relationships that may influence their research. Each manuscript must contain a dedicated Conflict of Interest statement at the end of the paper. If no conflicts exist, authors must clearly state:

“The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.”

Transparency in disclosure is essential to maintain trust in published research.

Appeals Policy

Authors may submit a formal appeal if their manuscript is rejected. Appeals must be sent in writing to:

Email: 
Subject Line: Appeal

The appeal letter should include detailed explanations and point-by-point responses to the reviewers’ and editors’ comments. All appeal decisions are final and cannot be further reviewed. As priority is given to new submissions, the appeal process may require additional time.

Open Access Policy

Open Access, Licensing, and Copyright: The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR) follows the Gold Open Access publishing model, ensuring that all published articles are immediately and permanently available to readers worldwide without subscription barriers. This approach supports the free exchange of scientific knowledge and promotes global research visibility.

All articles published in SHCR are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). This license allows users to copy, share, adapt, and redistribute published content for non-commercial purposes, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and source.

When reproducing or reusing content, users must include complete bibliographic details, including author names, article title, journal name, volume/issue, article identification number, direct URL, and copyright and licensing information. Authors retain full copyright ownership of their published work. No separate permission is required for reuse, as authorization is granted through the Creative Commons license, with appropriate attribution. The publisher does not claim copyright unless otherwise specified.

Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

Ethical Standards: All submitted manuscripts must include a formal ethics approval statement indicating the name of the approving institution and approval number, where applicable, for studies involving human participants or animals.

Research must comply with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). Authors are responsible for maintaining participant confidentiality by avoiding the inclusion of personal identifiers such as names, initials, or hospital numbers.

For animal and human studies, authors must confirm compliance with institutional, national, and international guidelines governing ethical research conduct. Documentary evidence of approval may be requested by the Editorial Office.

The Methods section must clearly state whether informed consent was obtained from all participants. Manuscripts that do not meet ethical requirements will not be considered for publication.

Policy on Research and Publication Misconduct

SHCR is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity. The Editorial Board actively monitors submissions for potential misconduct, including:

• Plagiarism
• Duplicate or redundant publication
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Image or figure manipulation
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Inappropriate authorship changes

In cases of suspected misconduct, the journal follows the procedures and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Post-Publication Retraction Policy

The Editor-in-Chief may retract published articles under the following circumstances:

• Evidence of unreliable data due to misconduct or major errors
• Prior publication of substantial content without proper acknowledgment
• Proven plagiarism
• Identification of unethical research practices

Retractions are issued to preserve the integrity of the scientific record.

Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their research. Each manuscript must include a Conflict of Interest statement at the end of the article. If no conflicts exist, authors should declare:

“The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.”

Full transparency is essential to maintain trust in published research.

Appeals Policy

Authors may appeal editorial decisions on rejected manuscripts by submitting a formal request via email:

Email: 
Subject: Appeal

The appeal must include a detailed explanation and point-by-point responses to reviewer and editor comments. All appeal decisions are final. As new submissions are prioritized, the appeal review process may require additional time.

Instructions for Authors

Scope and Article Categories: The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR) invites researchers, clinicians, and academicians to submit high-quality manuscripts in English that address fundamental, clinical, and translational aspects of medicine and public health.

The journal accepts submissions in the following categories:

• Editorials
• Review Articles
• Original Research Articles
• Case Reports
• Brief Communications
• Comments and Letters to the Editor

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

Authors are required to prepare their manuscripts in accordance with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals as outlined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Detailed guidelines are available at: www.icmje.org

Manuscripts must be prepared and submitted in Microsoft Word format, using:

• A4 page size
• Single-column layout
• Standard academic formatting

Each submission must be accompanied by:

• A covering letter
• A completed contributor statement
• A signed copyright form

(Templates and forms are available in the Download Section.)

Submission Process

All manuscripts must be submitted exclusively through the Online Manuscript Submission Portal. Submissions sent by email or post will not be accepted. Authors are advised to retain copies of all submitted materials, as documents will not be returned regardless of the editorial decision.

For submission-related queries, authors may contact the Editorial Office at:

Email: 

Anti-Plagiarism and Authorship Policy

Anti-Plagiarism Policy: By submitting a manuscript to The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR), all authors confirm and agree to the following:

• Plagiarism is unethical, unacceptable, and a violation of academic integrity. It includes presenting another person’s ideas, data, or published work as one’s own without proper acknowledgment.
• All sources, whether published or unpublished, must be appropriately cited and referenced.
• Every contribution from external sources has been clearly acknowledged.
• Authors accept full responsibility for the originality and accuracy of the submitted manuscript, including proper referencing and citation practices.

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Any manuscript found to contain unacceptable levels of similarity may be rejected or withdrawn at any stage of publication.

Authorship Guidelines: Proper recognition of scholarly contributions is essential. Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the research and manuscript.

All authors must have contributed significantly to one or more of the following areas:

• Study conception and design
• Data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation
• Drafting or critically revising the manuscript
• Final approval of the submitted version
• Accountability for the integrity and accuracy of the work

Activities such as funding acquisition, data collection alone, or general supervision do not qualify for authorship.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that:

• All eligible contributors are listed as authors
• No inappropriate authors are included
• All co-authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript
• All authors have agreed to its submission

Criteria for Authorship Credit

Authorship must meet all of the following conditions:

1. Substantial contribution to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation
2. Drafting or critically revising the manuscript
3. Approval of the final version for publication
4. Willingness to take responsibility for all aspects of the work

Only individuals who meet all these criteria should be listed as authors.

Policy on Changes in Authorship

Changes to authorship may include:

• Addition or removal of authors before publication
• Addition or removal of authors after publication
• Changes in the order of authors

In accordance with COPE guidelines, any request for authorship changes after submission must be supported by written consent from all listed authors.

Requests must be submitted to the Editorial Office with formal approval from every author before any modification can be implemented. No authorship changes will be made without complete documented agreement.

Copyright, Disclosure, and Patient Privacy Policy

Copyright and Licensing: By submitting a manuscript to The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR), authors confirm that the work is original and has not been published previously, nor is it under consideration for publication elsewhere, except where clearly stated in the covering letter.

All articles published in SHCR are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Under this license, authors retain full copyright ownership of their work while granting permission for others to download, share, reproduce, adapt, and distribute the content, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original authors and source.

No additional permission is required from the authors or the publisher for reuse. Proper attribution may be provided by citing the original article. Users must also clearly indicate the license terms under which the work was published when redistributing or reusing content. This licensing model promotes open access, ensures long-term availability, and supports the unrestricted dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Disclosure of Commercial and Financial Interests

Authors must fully disclose all sources of funding and financial support related to their research. Any financial, professional, or personal relationships that may influence the study or its interpretation must be declared at the time of submission. Transparency in disclosure helps maintain credibility and trust in published research.

Patient Anonymity and Informed Consent

 

As SHCR provides open public access to published content, strict ethical and legal standards are applied to protect patient privacy.

Authors must ensure that:

• Patient identities are not disclosed in any form
• Informed consent has been obtained for participation and publication
• Approval has been received from a recognized Ethics Committee

Statements confirming informed consent and ethical approval must be included in the manuscript. Supporting documentation may be requested during the review process.

Manuscripts that do not meet ethical and legal requirements regarding patient confidentiality and consent will not be accepted for publication.

Preparation of Manuscript

All manuscripts submitted to The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR) must be prepared in accordance with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Detailed guidelines are available at: www.icmje.org

Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format through the Online Manuscript Submission Portal only. Submissions sent by other means will not be accepted.

General Formatting Requirements

Authors are required to follow the formatting guidelines below:

• Line spacing: 1.5
• Margins: 2.5 cm on all sides
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12
• Layout: Single-column format on A4 size paper
• Letter spacing: Single space between characters

Manuscript Structure

Each manuscript should include the following components:

Title Page

• Complete manuscript title and running title
• Full names, academic qualifications, and institutional affiliations of all authors
• Designations, email addresses, and ORCID IDs of authors
• Corresponding author’s full postal address, email ID, and contact number

Abstract Page

• Full manuscript title
• Abstract (maximum 150 words for case reports and 250 words for original articles)
• Structured abstract for original research articles
• Three to five keywords selected from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Main Text

• Abbreviations defined at first mention and used consistently
• Headings in Title Case (not in all capitals or underlined)
• References cited in superscript format
• Reference list prepared according to Vancouver style

Language and Grammar Guidelines

Authors must ensure high linguistic quality and consistency:

• Use British English throughout the manuscript
• Utilize spell-check tools to minimize errors
• Spell out abbreviations when first introduced
• Write numbers from one to ten in words
• Spell out numerals appearing at the beginning of sentences

Tables and Figures

Authors should follow these standards for visual materials:

• Avoid duplication of data between text, tables, and graphs
• Provide original numerical data for all graphs
• Submit clear, high-quality figures (preferably in color)
• Include figure legends (maximum 40 words)
• Provide appropriate credit for reproduced tables or figures

Covering Letter (First Page Submission)

A completed covering letter must accompany every manuscript. The format can be downloaded from the journal website.

The covering letter should include:

• Type of manuscript (Original Article, Review Article, Case Report, Letter to Editor, etc.)
• Full title and running title
• Names, qualifications, affiliations, and contact details of all authors
• Corresponding author’s email address and phone number
• Total number of manuscript pages
• Total number of tables and figures
• Word count for abstract and main text (excluding references and supplementary sections)
• Sources of funding or material support, if any

Subsequent Pages

Following the title page and covering letter, the manuscript should be organized according to the prescribed format and journal guidelines. Manuscripts that do not comply with these instructions may be returned for revision prior to peer review.

Components of Articles

Authors are required to organize their manuscripts according to the category of submission, as outlined below.

1. Original Articles and Systematic Reviews

Manuscripts submitted as Original Articles or Systematic Reviews should include the following sections:

• Title
• Authors and Affiliations
• Structured Abstract
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods (including Statistical Analysis)
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgements
• References
• Tables and Figures

(Photographs should be submitted separately in .GIF, .JPG, or .TIFF format, where applicable.)

Authorship Limit: A maximum of six authors, including the corresponding author, is permitted.

2. Case Reports and Short Communications

Case Reports and Short Communications should be structured as follows:

• Title
• Authors and Affiliations
• Unstructured Abstract
• Introduction
• Case Report / Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgements
• References
• Tables and Figures

(Images should be submitted separately in .GIF, .JPG, or .TIFF format, if applicable.)

Authorship Limit: A maximum of four authors, including the corresponding author.

3. Comments and Letters to the Editor

Comments and Letters to the Editor should contain:

• Title
• Authors and Affiliations
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Discussion
• References

Authorship Limit: A maximum of four authors, including the corresponding author.

Manuscript Elements

Title

The title should be concise, informative, and engaging. It should not exceed 12 words or 72 characters.

Authors and Affiliations

Provide the following details for each author:

• Full name
• Academic qualifications
• Designation
• Institutional affiliation
• Complete postal address
• Contact number and email address of the corresponding author

Abstract

The abstract should summarize the study’s objectives, methods, key findings, and conclusions. Emphasis should be placed on novel and significant aspects of the research. References should not be included in the abstract.

Structured Abstract (For Original Articles and Systematic Reviews)

Maximum 250 words, organized under the following headings:

• Background
• Objectives
• Materials and Methods (including statistical analysis)
• Results
• Conclusions

Unstructured Abstract (For Reviews, Case Reports, and Short Communications)

Maximum 200–250 words in paragraph format.

Introduction

The Introduction should provide a brief background of the topic, explain the rationale for the study, and clearly state the objectives. Only relevant and essential references should be cited.

Materials and Methods

This section should describe the study design and methodology in sufficient detail to allow replication.

Authors should include:

• Selection criteria and participant details
• Detailed description of procedures and techniques
• References for established methods
• Explanations for modified or novel methods, including limitations
• Precise identification of drugs and chemicals (generic name, dosage, and route of administration)

For randomized controlled trials, authors must follow the CONSORT guidelines and report key elements such as:

• Study protocol
• Randomization methods
• Allocation concealment
• Blinding procedures

(See: http://www.consort-statement.org)

Reporting Guidelines, Statistics, and Ethics Policy

Reporting Guidelines

The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR) encourages authors to follow internationally recognized reporting standards when preparing manuscripts. Adherence to these guidelines enhances transparency, accuracy, and reproducibility in scientific publishing.

Authors are advised to consult the following reporting frameworks, as applicable to their study design:

• STROBE – Reporting of observational studies in epidemiology
• COREQ – Reporting of qualitative research
• CONSORT – Reporting of randomized controlled trials
• STARD – Reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies
• PRISMA – Reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• MOOSE – Reporting of meta-analyses of observational studies
• ARRIVE – Reporting of animal research

In addition, authors should follow:

• STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies
• STROBE for observational studies
• MIAME for microarray experiments

For other types of health-related research, authors are encouraged to consult the EQUATOR Network website to identify appropriate reporting guidelines.

Statistical Reporting

Authors must present statistical data clearly and accurately. Whenever possible, study findings should be quantified and accompanied by appropriate indicators of uncertainty, such as confidence intervals.

The following principles should be observed:

• Report participant losses to follow-up, including dropouts
• Clearly describe all statistical methods used in data analysis
• Define statistical terms, abbreviations, and symbols
• Specify the statistical software utilized
• Report exact P-values (e.g., P = 0.048), rather than using thresholds such as P < 0.05 or P < 0.001

All statistical information should be presented in a transparent and reproducible manner.

Ethical Standards and Research Approval

All research involving human participants or animals must comply with recognized ethical principles and regulatory standards.

For studies involving human participants, authors must confirm that procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by an appropriate institutional, regional, or national Ethics Committee or Review Board. For prospective studies, authors must state that informed consent was obtained from adult participants and assent was obtained from children where required under local regulations.

Participant confidentiality must be strictly maintained. Personal identifiers such as names, initials, or hospital numbers must not be included in manuscripts or illustrative materials.

For animal studies, authors must confirm compliance with institutional or national guidelines governing animal care and use. All experimental procedures must be humane and clearly described.

Documentary evidence of ethical approval for both human and animal studies may be requested by the Editorial Office at any stage of review or publication.

All research articles must include a clear statement regarding ethical approval and compliance within the Materials and Methods section. Manuscripts that fail to meet ethical standards will not be considered for publication.

Results, Discussion, and Reference Guidelines

Results

The Results section should present study findings in a clear and logical sequence using text, tables, and figures where appropriate. Authors should avoid unnecessary repetition of data across different formats. Information presented in tables and illustrations should not be restated in full within the text.

Discussion

The Discussion should highlight the novel and significant findings of the study. Authors should interpret their results in relation to existing literature, explain their scientific and clinical implications, and acknowledge study limitations. Repetition of information already presented in the Introduction or Results sections should be avoided.

Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgements section should recognize individuals or institutions that contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria. Permission must be obtained from all persons being acknowledged. This section should be limited to a maximum of ten contributors.

Reference Guidelines

All references must be prepared in accordance with the journal’s guidelines and follow the Vancouver referencing style developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and authenticity of all references cited.

In-Text Citations

References should be cited sequentially in the order of appearance using superscript Arabic numerals enclosed in brackets, for example: [1], [3,4], or [10–15].

Citation numbers must be placed after punctuation marks, including full stops. References should be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript.

Reference List Format

Below are standard formats for commonly cited sources:

Journal Articles

Surname Initials. Title of article. Journal title/abbreviation. Year;Volume(Issue):Page range. DOI (if available).

Example:
Rasmussen LD, Kronborg G, Larsen CS, Pedersen C, Gerstoft J, Obel N. Statin therapy and mortality in HIV-infected individuals; a Danish nationwide population-based cohort study. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e52828. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052828.

In Vancouver style, if a source has 1 to 6 authors, list all of them in the reference list, separated by commas. For sources with 7 or more authors, list the first 6 authors followed by a comma and "et al.". Authors are listed as Surname Initials (e.g., Smith AK), with no periods between initials. 

Books and Monographs

Personal Author: Katzung BG. Basic and clinical pharmacology. In: Trevor AJ, Katzung BG, Masters SB, eds. Katzung & Trevor’s Pharmacology: Examination and Board Review. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2013:45–68.

Editors as Authors: Gilstrap LC 3rd, Cunningham FG, VanDorsten JP, eds. Operative Obstetrics. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2002.

Book Chapters: Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer. In: DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2015:57–74.

Online Journal Articles: Lalani M, Wytrykowski S, Hogan H. Approaches to improving patient safety in integrated care: a scoping review. BMJ Open [Internet]. 2023 Apr [cited 2026 Jan 29];13(4):e067441. Available from: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/4/e067441

 

Newspapers and Magazines: Surname Initials. Article title. Newspaper title. Date:Page.

Example:
Ringen S. La ikke Erna Solberg raseredet lokalefolkestyre. Aftenposten. 2004 Mar 25:10.

Webpages: Author. Title [Internet]. Place: Publisher; Date [updated date; cited date]. Available from: URL

Tables and Figures

Each table must be typed on a separate page and numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals. Explanatory notes should be placed below the table where necessary.

Figures, illustrations, and photographs must be submitted as separate files in .JPG or .TIFF format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. All images should be of high quality.

For clinical photographs, patient identity must be masked. If masking is not possible, written consent must be provided.

Figure legends should be typed on a separate page and include the figure number, title, and explanatory text. Legends must provide sufficient information to allow interpretation without reference to the main text.

Units and Drug Nomenclature

All measurements must be reported in metric units. Biomedical values should be presented in conventional units, with International System (SI) units provided in parentheses where applicable. Authors must use generic drug names rather than brand or trade names throughout the manuscript. Manuscripts that do not follow these guidelines may be returned for revision prior to peer review.

Peer Review, Publication Ethics, and Appeals Policy

Editorial and Peer Review Process: All manuscripts submitted to The Scientific Health Care Record (SHCR) undergo a rigorous editorial and peer review process to ensure scientific quality, originality, and relevance. Authors are encouraged to refer to the Editorial and Peer Review section on the journal website for detailed information regarding the review procedure.

Each submission is initially screened by the Editorial Office and subsequently evaluated by qualified independent reviewers. Editorial decisions are based on reviewers’ recommendations, scientific merit, and journal policies.

Publication Charges

There are no Publication charges.