Complaints and Appeals Policy

Digital Health & Telemonitoring Advances (DHTA) is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and accountable publishing environment. The journal recognizes the importance of providing authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders with an appropriate mechanism to raise concerns, submit complaints, or appeal editorial decisions.

The journal handles all complaints and appeals objectively, confidentially, and in accordance with principles of ethical scholarly publishing. All concerns are reviewed carefully to ensure that editorial practices remain fair, consistent, and transparent.

1. Scope of Complaints and Appeals

This policy applies to concerns related to the journal’s publishing and editorial processes, including:

  • Editorial decisions and manuscript handling.

  • Peer review procedures.

  • Reviewer conduct.

  • Authorship or contribution-related concerns.

  • Ethical issues related to published or submitted manuscripts.

  • Conflicts of interest.

  • Allegations of research misconduct.

  • Publication corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

The journal does not consider appeals based solely on disagreement with academic evaluation unless authors provide specific reasons or evidence suggesting that the editorial process was unfair or inappropriate.

2. Submission of Complaints

Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, researchers, or other relevant stakeholders who identify a legitimate concern regarding journal practices.

A complaint should include:

  • A clear description of the issue.

  • Relevant manuscript or publication details, where applicable.

  • Supporting information or evidence.

  • Contact details for further communication.

Complaints should be submitted through the official communication channel provided by the journal.

3. Handling of Editorial Complaints

All complaints are reviewed by the editorial team or an appropriate designated representative.

The review process may include:

  • Initial assessment of the complaint.

  • Examination of relevant records and correspondence.

  • Consultation with editors, reviewers, or experts where necessary.

  • Communication of the outcome to the concerned party.

The journal aims to address complaints within a reasonable timeframe while maintaining confidentiality and fairness.

4. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may submit an appeal when they believe that an editorial decision was based on:

  • Significant misunderstanding of the manuscript content.

  • Incorrect interpretation of reviewer comments.

  • Procedural irregularity during peer review.

  • Potential conflict of interest affecting the decision.

An appeal should provide a clear explanation of the grounds for reconsideration and address specific concerns rather than simply repeating the original submission.

5. Appeal Review Process

Appeals are reviewed independently and carefully by the editorial team.

The process may include:

  1. Review of the original manuscript and peer review reports.

  2. Evaluation of the author’s appeal statement.

  3. Assessment of whether appropriate editorial procedures were followed.

  4. Additional expert consultation if required.

  5. Final decision communicated to the author.

The decision following an appeal review is considered final unless new significant information becomes available.

6. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

The journal maintains confidentiality throughout complaint and appeal procedures.

Information related to complaints and appeals is shared only with individuals directly involved in resolving the matter.

All parties are treated respectfully and fairly regardless of academic position, institutional affiliation, geographic location, or professional background.

7. Complaints Related to Published Articles

Concerns regarding published articles, including possible errors, ethical issues, or research integrity concerns, are evaluated according to the journal’s publication ethics and corrections/retractions procedures.

Appropriate actions may include:

  • Requesting clarification from authors.

  • Publishing corrections.

  • Issuing expressions of concern.

  • Retracting articles where serious issues are confirmed.

8. Editorial Independence

Complaints and appeals are handled independently from commercial, financial, or external influences. Editorial decisions are based on academic standards, ethical principles, and the integrity of the scholarly record.

9. Commitment to Transparency and Accountability

Digital Health & Telemonitoring Advances is committed to maintaining a responsible and trustworthy publishing process. By providing clear procedures for complaints and appeals, the journal supports fairness, accountability, and confidence among authors, reviewers, readers, and the wider research community.