Research Data Policy for International Medical Journal of Health (IMJH)
Data Sharing & Management
This policy outlines requirements for research data sharing, management, and preservation in accordance with international standards for medical research.
Policy Navigation
1. Policy Scope
| Data Type | Description | Sharing Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Trial Data | Data from interventional studies | Mandatory |
| Observational Study Data | Epidemiological, cohort data | Encouraged |
| Statistical Analysis Data | Analysis datasets, code | Recommended |
| Imaging Data | Medical images, scans | Case by case |
| Genetic Data | Genomic, sequencing data | Mandatory |
Scope Note
This policy applies to all research data underlying the results reported in articles published in IMJH. It aligns with ICMJE recommendations and funder requirements.
2. Data Sharing Requirements
Mandatory Requirements
- Data availability statement in manuscript
- Deposit in recognized repository
- Data accessible upon publication
- Clear data citation
- Ethical approval documentation
- Informed consent for sharing
Timeline Requirements
3. Data Repositories
Recommended Repositories
General Repositories:
Medical/Clinical Repositories:
4. Metadata Standards
| Metadata Element | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dataset Title | Yes | Descriptive title of dataset |
| Authors/Creators | Yes | Names of data creators |
| Description | Yes | Methods, variables, context |
| License | Yes | CC0 or similar open license |
| Related Publication | Yes | DOI of IMJH article |
| Format | Recommended | Open, non-proprietary formats |
5. Privacy & Ethical Considerations
Privacy Protection
- De-identify patient data
- Remove direct identifiers
- Aggregate when necessary
- Follow HIPAA/GDPR requirements
- Obtain consent for sharing
- Data use agreements if needed
Ethical Requirements
- IRB/ethics committee approval
- Informed consent documentation
- Data anonymization certification
- Cultural sensitivity considerations
- Indigenous data sovereignty
- Community engagement where relevant
Sensitive Data Exceptions
For data that cannot be shared due to privacy, ethical, or legal constraints, authors must provide a data availability statement explaining restrictions and how qualified researchers can request access.
6. Compliance & Contact
Data Policy Support
Related Policies
Complementary Policies:
Compliance Monitoring
IMJH monitors compliance with this policy during manuscript review. Non-compliance may result in manuscript rejection or publication delay. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office early in the submission process for guidance on data sharing requirements.
Policy Summary
Key Requirements:
- ✓ Data availability statement required
- ✓ Deposit in recognized repository
- ✓ Public access upon publication
- ✓ Ethical and privacy compliance
- ✓ Minimum 10-year preservation
- ✓ Proper metadata and citation