The editorial policy of Medicine, Science and Education is designed to ensure scientific quality, the reliability of published findings, and the independence of editorial decisions. It applies to all journal content, including thematic and special issues.
The journal’s editorial practices are guided by the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the documents of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the joint Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing issued by COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, and WAME, and the research reporting guidelines available through the EQUATOR Network.
Scope and Article Types
The journal publishes work in population health and public health, experimental and clinical medicine, and medical education. Interdisciplinary research is considered where its relevance to these fields is clearly established.
The journal considers original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, scholarly analytical reviews, brief research reports, case reports, study protocols, methodological articles, and scholarly correspondence. Editorials may also be published. The article type is clearly identified in each publication.
Submissions are accepted in Kazakh, Russian, and English. Titles, abstracts, keywords, and author information must be provided in all three languages.
Selection and Assessment Criteria
The principal assessment criteria are the importance of the research question, methodological soundness, reliability of the findings, consistency between the conclusions and the evidence presented, and the contribution to scientific knowledge.
Studies reporting null or negative findings, replication studies, and research based on regional data are assessed against the same standards as other submissions. Statistical significance and anticipated citation impact do not, in themselves, determine acceptance. Language issues that can be addressed through editing are assessed separately from the scientific merit of the work.
Original research articles and systematic reviews must explain their contribution in a “Research in Context” section.
Independence and Impartiality
Editorial decisions are made without regard to the authors’ position, academic degree, institutional affiliation, citizenship, sex, origin, or beliefs, or to publication payments and relationships with the publisher.
The publisher provides organizational, legal, and technical support but may not require the acceptance or rejection of an individual manuscript on administrative, commercial, or reputational grounds.
Editors and reviewers must disclose potential conflicts of interest. Individuals with a significant conflict are excluded from handling or reviewing the manuscript. Submissions authored by the Editor-in-Chief, members of the journal’s editorial bodies, or the publisher’s senior management are assigned to an independent external handling editor. These authors do not participate in the appointment of the handling editor or reviewers, or in decisions concerning their own articles. The author’s editorial relationship and the independent handling of the submission are disclosed in the publication.
Manuscript Assessment and Editorial Decisions
Submissions undergo an initial editorial assessment. Manuscripts that meet the journal’s requirements proceed to independent peer review in accordance with the published procedure.
Research manuscripts undergo double-anonymous peer review by at least two independent external experts. Additional subject-specific, methodological, or statistical assessment is arranged where necessary.
Reviewers’ recommendations are advisory. The authorized editor makes the final, reasoned decision based on the manuscript, the reviewers’ reports, and the authors’ responses. Decisions may include acceptance, minor revision, major revision with reassessment, or rejection. Favorable reviews do not, by themselves, guarantee acceptance.
Publication Preparation and Scholarly Discussion
Accepted articles undergo scientific, language, and technical editing. Changes affecting scientific content are agreed with the authors. Publication order is determined by the date of acceptance, the thematic publication plan, and the readiness of the materials.
Thematic and special issues are subject to the journal’s general requirements. The involvement of guest editors does not remove the requirement for independent handling and individual assessment of each research article.
The journal supports evidence-based scholarly discussion and considers critical comments and responses to published work. Publication decisions are based on scientific validity, relevance to the subject under discussion, and respectful presentation.
Detailed procedures are provided in the “Author Guidelines,” “Peer Review,” “Ethics,” and “Complaints and Appeals” sections and in the journal’s other subject-specific policies.