Policies

Publication Ethics

Interprofessional QI Reports (IQIR) is a double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access e-journal that adheres to ethical scholarly publishing principles and practices. Scientific progress is only possible when inquiry is conducted with integrity and results can be trusted. Peer review forms the foundation of scholarly certification of results and ensures that the articles in the journal are of the highest quality. To ensure that editors, reviewers, and authors are guided by the highest ethical standards, the editors of the journal request that all participants adhere to the following principles:

Editors

The editors bear ethical responsibilities toward authors, peer reviewers, and readers. Editors are accountable for all journal content, and their goal is to constantly improve its quality. They are committed to ensuring that peer reviewers receive the material and information required to conduct fair and qualified peer review on which to base acceptance or rejection of articles. Editors are committed to publishing issues efficiently and on time. To do this, editors must:

  • Establish clear policies and procedures for themselves, authors, and peer reviewers designed to identify and document all conflicts of interest on the part of participants in the article submission and review process;
  • Protect the absolute confidentiality of authors’ work and research data;
  • Ensure that the peer review and editorial decision processes are impartial and timely;
  • Maintain the integrity of the scientific and academic record by identifying and prominently publishing any corrections, errors, or concerns about article content; and
  • Treat all parties with fairness, courtesy, objectivity, honesty, and transparency.

Reviewers

The IQIR peer review process is double-blind; anonymity is maintained between reviewers and authors. Reviewers volunteer their time and expertise. Their unbiased, expert critical assessment of an article can result in improvements that lead to its publication. Their judgment of scientific merit protects the integrity of the scientific and academic record and upholds the journal’s reputation for publishing articles that meet the highest standards. To do this, reviewers must:

  • Identify any personal or professional conflicts of interest, recusing themselves from reviewing any article where such conflicts exist;
  • Provide written, unbiased, and timely feedback about the scholarly merit and scientific value of the work;
  • Ensure that readers can judge the scientific merit of the study design and that its results are replicable;
  • Ensure that the article contains appropriate citations to relevant work by other authors;
  • Maintain the strict confidentiality of article, author, and data details throughout the review process;
  • Alert the editors to any violations of ethical norms for the treatment of human and animal subjects; to any similarities between the reviewed material and previously published material, study methodologies, and statistical analyses; and to any other issues that could compromise the journal’s ethics and integrity.

Engaged in the work of scientific inquiry themselves, reviewers recognize that material submitted to them for review is a privileged communication. Reviewers guard the confidentiality of the author’s identity and work, conducting constructive reviews that document both positive and negative aspects of the work with respect for the authors’ intellectual independence. No reviewer shall use any submitted content for any purpose not related to the peer review process.

Research Misconduct and Plagiarism

IQIR is guided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Research Integrity’s definition of research misconduct: in short, “the fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.” The journal’s editors are obligated to act to uncover the truth in cases of suspected or alleged abuses, not only to protect IQIR’s own integrity, but also to pursue the matter on behalf of the scientific and academic community, notifying employers, co-authors, funding agencies, and other publishers affected by the misconduct. For details on the procedures the need for such action can set in motion, consult the flowcharts created by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Article Submission Policy

Submitted articles cannot have been previously published, nor can they be forthcoming in print or electronic form; please note: inclusion in a working-paper series does not constitute prior publication. By submitting material to IQIR, the author is stipulating that the material is not currently under review by another journal (electronic or print) and that he or she will not submit the material to another journal (electronic or print) until completion of the editorial decision process at IQIR. If you have concerns about the submission terms, please contact the editors.

Copyright, Attribution & Usage

For publication of an article, the authors assign to IQIR all copyright to the article, subject to expansive personal-use exceptions described under For Authors.

All content is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license. In accordance with the terms of that license and with the Budapest Open Access Initiative’s definition of open access, users have the non-embargoed right to read, download, copy, print, search, distribute, and link to the full text of all articles in this journal, provided the original work is accurately and appropriately cited and a link to the license is provided. Content may not be changed in any way prior to distribution or used for commercial purposes.

Reproduction, posting, transmission, or other distribution or use of an article or any material therein, in any medium, as permitted by a personal-use exemption or by written agreement of Interprofessional QI Reports requires credit to IQIR as copyright holder.

Those seeking an exception to these permissions or who have questions about use should contact the editors.

Privacy Policy

Before you continue using the IQIR website, we advise you to carefully review this privacy policy. Only submit personal information and use our site if you accept this privacy policy and our Terms of Use.

Personal Information

When you interact with us, you may be invited to provide us with information that enables IQIR to identify you (“personal information”). The types of personal information IQIR may collect includes:

  • General information (your name, email address, postal address, phone number)
  • Professional information (occupation, specialty, practice setting)
  • IP address and geolocation data related to devices that access our site

IQIR uses your personal information as necessary in connection with legitimate services such as:

  • Reviewing content or publishing materials provided by you
  • Providing you with communication regarding your article submission
  • Answering your emails or other online requests or fulfilling services you request

IQIR does not share information with other entities/third parties with the exception of law enforcement, government agencies, and courts as necessary. We may disclose personal information at the request of law enforcement or government agencies in response to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process; to defend against a legal claim; to protect the rights, property, or safety of ourselves or any other person; or as otherwise required by law.

Non-Personal Information

The website also collects information about how the site is used by visitors but which may not directly identify you (“non-personal information”). This may include cookies and tracking tools that may recognize digital device identifiers and browsers, information about site usage, articles viewed, or other similar information.

IQIR uses non-personal information to ensure or improve the functionality of our site and to track how the site is used.

Information Security

IQIR implements reasonable security measures to protect against unauthorized access to, alteration of, or disclosure of your data. We restrict access to information to only employees who may need to know that information in order to operate or improve our publishing services. However, no data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed 100% secure. Despite our efforts, IQIR cannot warrant the security of any information you transmit to us. Email messages sent to or from a website may not be secure; site visitors sending email accept the risk that a third party may intercept email messages.

Linking to Other Websites

You should be aware that when you select a link that takes you to websites not operated by IQIR, these third-party sites may contain privacy provisions that differ from IQIR’s privacy policy. We do not control those sites or the information they collect. IQIR takes no responsibility and assumes no liability for the privacy practices of such third parties.

Terms of Use

These Term of Use (“Terms”) govern usage of the IQIR website and the articles contained therein. By accessing and/or using the IQIR website and its contents, you accept and agree to these Terms and IQIR’s Article Submission Agreement (“Agreement”), as well as all operating rules, conditions, and policies that may be published on the site. All such rules, conditions, and policies are incorporated into the Terms of Use by this reference.

For information about IQIR’s use and protection of your personal information, please read our Privacy Policy which is incorporated into and made a part of these Terms.

Content Disclaimer

The presence of any article in the journal does not imply endorsement or approval of the contents by IQIR, the editorial board, or the University of Utah. The information, opinions, and views presented in the journal articles reflect the views of the authors and contributors.

Although reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, IQIR makes no guarantees as to accuracy, completeness, or reliability of article content. Because of rapid advances in medical sciences, independent verification of the accuracy, completeness, and usefulness of all data, opinions, and other information found in the journal articles should be made. IQIR assumes no responsibility or liability for any consequence resulting directly or indirectly for any action or inaction taken based on or made in reliance on journal content.

Changes to Terms of Use

We reserve the right, at our discretion, to modify, add or delete portions of these Terms at any time by posting updated Terms of Use on this site. Please check these Terms frequently for updates. Any modifications, additions, or deletions to these Terms shall be effective immediately upon posting of updated Terms of Use. Your continued use of the site and its contents following the posting of updated Terms will indicate that you agree to those changes.

Waiver & Severability

Any failure of IQIR to exercise or enforce any right or provision stated in the Terms of Use or Article Submission Agreement does not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of these Terms of Use or the Article Submission Agreement is found to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the Terms or the Agreement remain in full force and effect.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless IQIR and its affiliates against any legal claims or demands arising from or in any way related to your use or misuse of the IQIR website, its content, or its publishing services, including any contributions you may submit, or a violation by you of the Terms of Use and/or Article Submission Agreement.

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

The Terms of Use, Article Submission Agreement, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Utah, without regard to principles of conflict laws. State or federal courts in Salt Lake County, Utah shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any controversy, claim, or dispute arising from or related to the Terms or the Agreement. You consent to unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

Last Updated: June 26, 2023