Complaints and Appeals
AHRIE (Applied Health Research, Innovation & Education) is committed to handling complaints and appeals fairly, respectfully, confidentially, impartially, and in a timely manner.
Submitting a complaint or appeal in good faith will not lead to retaliation or unfairly affect the consideration of current or future work.
Difference between a complaint and an appeal
An appeal is a formal request for reconsideration of an editorial decision concerning a manuscript.
A complaint concerns the conduct, procedure, service, or actions of the journal, its editors, reviewers, team members, publisher, or other individuals involved in the editorial process.
Appeals against editorial decisions
Authors may appeal a decision when they believe that there has been:
• a significant factual error;
• a clearly incorrect editorial interpretation;
• a significant procedural problem;
• a conflict of interest that was not identified or properly managed;
• relevant evidence that was submitted on time but not considered;
• a substantial departure from AHRIE’s editorial policies.
Mere disagreement with reviewer comments or the editorial decision is not sufficient grounds for an appeal. New analyses, data, or revisions that were not part of the evaluated manuscript will not normally justify an appeal unless they demonstrate a specific error in the process or decision.
Deadline for appeals
An appeal must be received within 30 calendar days of the date on which the editorial decision was communicated.
Requests received after this period may be considered only when exceptional justification or relevant new evidence exists that could not previously have been submitted.
Submitting an appeal
Appeals must be sent to:
Recommended subject line:
“Editorial appeal – [manuscript identifier]”
The corresponding author must submit the appeal with the knowledge of all co-authors. It must include:
• the manuscript title and identifier;
• the date and type of decision being appealed;
• a clear and organized explanation of the grounds;
• identification of any factual, scientific, or procedural errors;
• a specific response to the relevant aspects of the decision;
• supporting documents or evidence;
• disclosure of any conflict of interest related to the appeal;
• confirmation that all authors are aware of the request.
The appeal must use academic, respectful, and professional language.
Initial assessment
The editorial team will determine whether the appeal:
• was submitted within the deadline;
• contains the required information;
• presents specific and verifiable grounds;
• is an appeal rather than solely an expression of disagreement;
• can be examined without a conflict of interest.
When essential information is missing, clarification or additional documentation may be requested.
Review of the appeal
The appeal will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor, or another independent editor who did not directly participate in the disputed decision and has no conflict of interest.
When necessary, the reviewer of the appeal may consult:
• peer-review reports;
• the complete editorial record;
• editors or reviewers originally involved;
• additional independent specialists;
• the Methods & Statistics Editor;
• documents, data, or evidence provided by the authors.
Consultation with the original reviewers does not mean that they decide the appeal. Final responsibility rests with the person or editorial body assigned to review it.
Possible outcomes
Review of an appeal may result in:
• confirmation of the original decision;
• reopening of the editorial evaluation;
• an additional independent review;
• reconsideration by another editor;
• correction of a procedural error;
• modification of the editorial decision.
Acceptance of an appeal does not mean acceptance of the manuscript. It means that sufficient grounds exist to reconsider the procedure or decision.
Normally, only one appeal will be considered for each manuscript. An additional request will be reviewed only when it presents substantial new evidence or demonstrates a significant problem in the handling of the first appeal.
Complaints
Complaints may concern:
• excessive delays or lack of communication;
• failure to follow editorial policies;
• disrespectful, discriminatory, or inappropriate treatment;
• possible conflicts of interest;
• breach of confidentiality;
• editor or reviewer conduct;
• authorship or contributorship issues;
• unauthorized use of information or materials;
• possible ethical breaches;
• corrections, retractions, or post-publication actions;
• misleading or inconsistent information on the journal website;
• any other action attributable to AHRIE or its editorial process.
Submitting a complaint
Complaints must be sent to:
Recommended subject line:
“Editorial complaint – [subject or manuscript identifier]”
The communication must include:
• the complainant’s name and contact details;
• a clear description of the concern;
• the manuscript, article, person, or procedure involved;
• relevant dates and communications;
• available evidence;
• the requested solution or action, when applicable;
• disclosure of any potential conflict of interest.
Complaints should be submitted as soon as reasonably possible to facilitate the preservation and assessment of evidence.
Handling complaints
AHRIE will acknowledge receipt and, whenever possible, communicate the procedure and estimated response time.
The complaint will be handled by someone who was not directly involved in the matter:
• complaints about reviewers or team members will be assessed by the responsible editor or a higher editorial authority;
• complaints about an editor will be referred to the Deputy Editor, Editor-in-Chief, or an independent person;
• complaints about the Editor-in-Chief will be handled by the Deputy Editor or an independent body designated by the publisher;
• complaints about the publisher will be assessed with the participation of an independent person who has no conflict of interest.
When necessary, AHRIE may request explanations, examine communications and records, consult specialists, or contact relevant institutions and authorities.
Complaints involving research conduct
Allegations involving data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, image manipulation, authorship, fraudulent peer review, undisclosed conflicts, or other possible breaches will be handled under AHRIE’s publication ethics policies.
The journal may request information from authors, reviewers, editors, institutions, funders, or ethics committees. AHRIE will protect confidentiality to the extent compatible with an appropriate investigation and applicable legal obligations.
Confidentiality and data protection
Information will be shared only with those necessary to assess and resolve the matter. Absolute anonymity cannot be guaranteed when identity is essential to investigate the facts or when disclosure is legally required.
AHRIE will retain a record of the complaint or appeal, supporting evidence, communications, and decision.
Respectful communication
All parties must communicate professionally. Criticism may be firm but must focus on facts, policies, decisions, or procedures.
Threats, intimidation, discrimination, harassment, disclosure of personal data, or deliberately abusive communications will not be accepted. Such conduct may result in limited communication without preventing examination of a legitimate ethical concern.
Response and closure
AHRIE will communicate the decision in writing and, to the extent permitted by confidentiality, explain its basis and any action taken.
Complex cases, particularly those depending on institutional or external investigations, may require additional time. Updates will be provided when possible.
A decision reached after completion of the internal procedure will be considered final unless substantial new evidence emerges or an applicable external legal, institutional, or regulatory route exists.
Editorial independence
Decisions concerning complaints and appeals will not be influenced by payments, sponsorship, affiliations, academic prestige, nationality, personal relationships, or commercial interests.
Empresa de Capacitación Internacional ECI S.C. will respect the editorial team’s independence in the assessment of scientific decisions.
