South American Publishing (SAP) journals are international, peer-reviewed publications dedicated to advancing scholarly dialogue across multiple disciplines. Our journals aim to publish high-quality research relevant to professionals, researchers, and policymakers worldwide.

1. Submission Preparation and Templates
Manuscripts must be prepared using the official SAP Journal Template. Submissions that do not adhere to the formatting requirements may be returned to authors for correction before entering the peer-review process.

Download Template: SAP Word Template (.docx)

Style Guide: All manuscripts must follow the Vancouver Style for citations and references.

2. Originality and Preprints
Manuscripts are considered with the understanding that they have not been published previously and are not under consideration by another publisher.

Preprints: SAP supports open science and considers material previously published on preprint servers (e.g., medRxiv, bioRxiv, arXiv). Authors must disclose the existence of a preprint version in their cover letter.
Duplicate Submission: Failure to disclose related material or simultaneous submissions is considered unethical. A content overlap of more than 10% may be considered duplicative.

3. ORCID Requirements
To ensure proper attribution and metadata integrity, SAP requires all authors to provide their ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID).
● The ORCID is mandatory for the corresponding author at the time of submission.
● We strongly encourage all co-authors to obtain and include their ORCID in the manuscript to facilitate global indexing.

4. Language Policy
SAP journals accept manuscripts in both English and Spanish. Regardless of the language of the paper, all metadata (Title, Abstract, and Keywords) must be provided in English to ensure international visibility.

5. Manuscript Structure (IMRaD Format)
For original research, authors must follow the IMRaD structure:
● Title: Concise and informative.
● Abstract: Structured (Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusions).
● Keywords: 3 to 6 terms for indexing.
● Introduction: Background, rationale, and objectives.
● Methods: Study design, participants/subjects, interventions, and Ethical Considerations (including informed consent).
● Results: Clear presentation of findings with appropriate tables/figures.
● Discussion: Principal results, limitations, comparison with prior work, and conclusions.
● Declarations: Funding Statement, Conflicts of Interest, and Data Availability.

6. Ethical Policies and Plagiarism
Ethics: All submissions must meet the journal's ethical requirements on authorship and contributorship, conflicts of interest and funding, originality, data and image integrity, and the responsible use of AI tools. Studies involving human participants must state that they were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, identify the ethics committee that approved the study together with the approval reference, and confirm that informed consent was obtained. Research based on online communities, social media, or other digital sources must also explain how privacy, anonymity, and consent were handled. Studies involving animals must report approval by the competent institutional or national body. See our ethical policy in the Ethical Aspects / Editorial Responsibilities section of this journal, and the editorial ethics policies of the publisher here.
Reporting guidelines: Where applicable, the journal requires a completed SPIRIT 2025 checklist as a condition of submission when reporting a protocol of a randomised trial, and a completed CONSORT 2025 checklist and flow diagram as a condition of submission when reporting the results of a randomised trial. Templates can be found on the SPIRIT-CONSORT website: consort-spirit.org. At a minimum, the article should report the content addressed by each item of the checklist (full text: CONSORT 2025; SPIRIT 2025).
Plagiarism: All submissions are screened using professional similarity detection software. Please refer to our Anti-Plagiarism Policy for detailed thresholds and procedures.
Artificial intelligence: Any use of AI tools beyond basic language correction must be disclosed in the manuscript, as described in our AI Policy.

7. Cascading Peer-Review (Transfer Policy)
As a service to our authors, SAP offers a transfer policy. If a manuscript is found unsuitable for one SAP journal but aligns with the scope of another SAP journal, the editorial team may suggest a transfer from a SAP journal to another SAP journal. Transfers take place only with the consent of the authors, and the receiving journal makes its own independent editorial decision. This allows for a faster publication process by potentially reusing previous peer-review reports.

8. Article Processing Charges (APC)
Authors should review the Fee Schedule in the Article Processing Charges (APC) section of this journal prior to submission to confirm any applicable charges for publication and production services. See also the publisher's policies on charges, waivers, and refunds on the Publishing Charges page.

9. Questions
If you have any questions about these instructions or about the submission process, please contact [email protected].

Peer review constitutes a central mechanism for the selection and validation of manuscripts that meet the expected standards of quality, relevance, and scholarly impact within the scientific and professional communities addressed by South American Publishing (SAP). Through this process, the publisher ensures that all accepted works make a meaningful contribution to their respective fields of research.

Review Model: Double-Blind
The evaluation follows a double-blind peer review model, in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the process in order to preserve objectivity and impartiality. All research articles and reviews are evaluated by at least two external reviewers who are recognized specialists in the relevant subject area, who act independently from one another, and who have no conflict of interest with the authors.

Initial Editorial Assessment
Once a manuscript is submitted, the journal acknowledges receipt by email and assigns a unique reference number for tracking purposes. The Editor-in-Chief or an appointed Associate Editor then conducts an initial editorial assessment to determine whether the submission fits the scope of the publication, meets basic quality standards, and complies with formal requirements. If a manuscript does not meet these criteria, authors are informed of an early rejection, usually within 5 business days.

As part of this assessment, every submission undergoes research integrity screening. South American Publishing is a member of the STM Association, and submitted manuscripts are checked through the STM Integrity Hub (further documentation is available from STM). The Hub is a secure environment shared by scholarly publishers that screens submissions for signals of research integrity problems, such as the same manuscript being submitted to more than one journal at the same time and indicators associated with paper mills or other systematic manipulation of the publication process. We use it because these problems frequently cannot be detected by a single journal working in isolation, and because identifying them before peer review protects honest authors, the time of reviewers, and the reliability of the scholarly record. Submissions are also checked with similarity detection software (see the Anti-Plagiarism Policy) and, where necessary, with tools that help to identify undisclosed AI-generated content or manipulated text, references, or images (see the AI Policy). The results of automated screening are indicators only: they are always assessed by an editor, authors are given the opportunity to respond when a concern arises, and no manuscript is rejected on the basis of an automated result alone. Manuscript data are handled confidentially and used solely for integrity checking.

Submissions may be declined at this stage if they fall outside the scope, are incomplete, or show evidence of plagiarism or of other integrity concerns that the authors are unable to resolve.

Peer Review Workflow and Timeline
Manuscripts that pass the preliminary assessment are forwarded for external review.
● Reviewer Selection: The reviewer pool consists of an international network of academics and professionals with doctoral qualifications or recognized expertise. Reviewers are selected by the handling editor on the basis of their expertise and independence from the authors.
● Invitation: Reviewers have up to 7 days to accept or decline the invitation.
● Review Period: Once the invitation is accepted, reviewers are expected to submit their reports and recommendations within 4 weeks.
● Editorial Decision: Authors typically receive an initial editorial decision based on reviewer reports within an average period of 30 to 45 days from submission.

Revisions and Final Decision
Reviewers may prepare their report using the SAP Peer Review Evaluation Form. Alternatively, they may submit a report in their own format, provided that it addresses the same evaluation criteria and concludes with a clear recommendation (accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject). When revisions are requested, authors receive anonymized comments and guidance for improving the manuscript. Revised versions, accompanied by a detailed "Response to Reviewers," must be submitted within 15 days. In cases where there is a substantial divergence between reviewer recommendations, the editor may request an additional evaluation from a third reviewer. While Associate Editors manage the evaluation workflow, the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of any manuscript rests with the Editor-in-Chief, based on the totality of reviewer feedback and editorial judgment. When the Editor-in-Chief is an author of a submission or has any other conflict of interest, the manuscript is handled and decided by an Associate Editor who has no conflict of interest.

Appeals
Authors who consider that a decision was based on a factual error or on an unfair process may submit a reasoned appeal to [email protected]. The procedure is described in the publisher's policy on Complaints and Appeals.

Confidentiality and Ethics
All materials submitted for evaluation are treated as strictly confidential. Reviewers must not disclose, share, or use any information contained in the manuscript for personal purposes, and must declare any conflict of interest before accepting an invitation. Communication between reviewers and the editorial team is conducted exclusively through the journal’s online platform to ensure traceability and proper documentation. All reviewers are expected to read and follow the Duties of Reviewers before starting a review, together with the COPE Ethical guidelines for peer reviewers (official source: doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.9); see also the publisher's Peer Review Process policy.

Publication and Indexing
Accepted manuscripts are typically published online within 15 to 25 days following final acceptance. All published articles are assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and become immediately citable. The editorial team is responsible for managing subsequent indexing and registration processes.

South American Publishing (SAP) maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism and is committed to ensuring that all published academic articles are original, unpublished, and have not been previously submitted to other journals or publication platforms.

1. Screening Process
To enforce this commitment, all manuscripts submitted to SAP journals undergo a rigorous screening process before the peer-review stage begins. The editorial team utilizes professional-grade similarity detection software, including: iThenticate (Crossref Similarity Check) and Turnitin. Additionally, editors may use complementary tools such as DupliChecker, Plagium, or Copyscape when deemed necessary to ensure the integrity of the work.

2. Similarity Thresholds and Procedures
The journal has established a maximum similarity threshold of 20%.
● Results > 20%: If a similarity report exceeds 20%, the authors will be formally notified via email. This communication will include the full similarity report and an expert editorial reflection.
● Author Response: Authors will be given the opportunity to provide comments or clarifications regarding the detected overlaps.
● Editorial Determination: The editorial board will analyze the author's feedback to determine if the similarity constitutes plagiarism or a failure in proper citation. If plagiarism is confirmed, the manuscript will be summarily rejected for evaluation.

3. Preventive Measures for Authors
SAP encourages transparency and academic integrity. Editors may provide authors with recommendations for online programs and resources so they can analyze their manuscripts for potential overlaps before formal submission. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all sources are properly credited and that the work submitted is their own. Any evidence of scientific misconduct, including data falsification or duplicate submission, will result in immediate disqualification from the editorial process. Submissions are additionally screened for duplicate submission and other integrity signals as described in the Peer Review Process. Cases identified after publication are handled under the publisher's Corrections, Retractions & Complaints policy.

South American Publishing (SAP) is committed to supporting the unrestricted circulation of academic and scientific knowledge. Through its Open Access policy, the publisher ensures that all content released across its journals, books, and conference proceedings is made freely available to readers worldwide, without financial, technical, or legal barriers.

This policy reflects the publisher’s commitment to broadening access to research, increasing the visibility and reach of scholarly work, and enhancing its academic and social impact. By promoting open dissemination, South American Publishing seeks to contribute to scientific advancement and to the development of society through equitable access to knowledge.

Open access refers to a publishing model in which scholarly content may be read, downloaded, copied, distributed, printed, searched, or linked in full by any user, for any lawful purpose. All materials published by South American Publishing are released under Creative Commons licenses, which enable reuse of the content while ensuring that proper credit is given to the original authors.

Unless otherwise specified, authors publish their work under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license allows others to share, reproduce, adapt, transform, and build upon the material, including for commercial purposes, provided that appropriate attribution is given and the original source of publication is acknowledged. These permissions cannot be revoked as long as the terms of the license are respected. Users must credit the author, include a reference to the license, and clearly indicate whether any changes have been made, without implying endorsement by the licensor. No additional legal or technological restrictions may be applied that would limit the freedoms granted by the license.

Authors retain their copyright after publication and are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically, including through personal websites, institutional repositories, and recognized open access platforms. Depositing published works in repositories contributes to wider dissemination, earlier visibility, and increased citation of research outputs.

Open access publishing offers multiple benefits, including greater visibility and impact for authors, increased citation potential, and improved access to research for academic communities, professionals, policymakers, and the general public. These benefits are particularly significant for researchers and readers in regions with limited access to subscription-based resources, and they support international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

To safeguard the long-term availability of published content, South American Publishing maintains a digital preservation strategy designed to ensure continued access over time. Published works are deposited in the Internet Archive and are kept in redundant preservation copies, which protect content against technological changes and unforeseen disruptions and ensure its availability for future generations of researchers and students.

The publisher is committed to transparent, responsible, and ethical publishing practices, aligned with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. South American Publishing aims to support the global dissemination of research while strengthening the presence and recognition of scholarship produced in South America and other regions of the Global South.

Some publishing services may involve Article Processing Charges (APCs) to cover the costs associated with peer review coordination, editorial management, production, and dissemination. At the same time, South American Publishing seeks to implement fair and flexible pricing models and may offer fee reductions or waivers, particularly for researchers from low- and middle-income countries or in cases where financial constraints would otherwise limit participation in open access publishing.

Author Self-Archiving Policy
Authors publishing with South American Publishing retain the copyright of their work under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). We encourage authors to self-archive and share all versions of their manuscript—including pre-prints, accepted versions, and the final published PDF (Version of Record)—in institutional repositories, personal websites, or academic social networks.

Conditions for self-archiving:
● The original source must be properly cited.
● A link to the final article via its DOI must be provided.
● The CC BY 4.0 license notice must be clearly stated.
● Authors may republish their material in other formats (such as book chapters or doctoral theses). However, submitting the same work to another scholarly journal is considered duplicate publication and is strictly prohibited.

Digital Preservation Policy
All articles published in SAP journals are deposited in the Internet Archive, an independent non-profit digital library, where a preservation copy of each article is stored and can be retrieved by its DOI. This keeps the content publicly accessible independently of the journal website. In addition, the publisher maintains redundant backups of all publication files and metadata, and every article is assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) registered through Crossref so that it can always be located and cited. Authors are free to deposit any version of their article in institutional or subject repositories. Full details are given in the publisher's Digital Preservation Policy.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
This journal is published by South American Publishing (SAP) and applies the publisher's ethical policies to every manuscript it receives and every article it publishes. Editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher share responsibility for the integrity of the scholarly record. The summary below describes each ethical requirement and links to the corresponding section of the publisher's Editorial Policies, where the full text is available.

Responsibilities
● Duties of the publisher. SAP guarantees editorial independence, provides the tools and support that editors need, corrects the record when necessary, and preserves published content. Read the policy.
● Duties of editors. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the content of the journal and makes the final decision on every manuscript; Associate Editors manage the review of the manuscripts assigned to them. Editors decide on scholarly merit alone, keep submissions confidential, and withdraw from any manuscript in which they have a conflict of interest. Read the policy.
● Duties of reviewers. Reviewers provide objective, constructive, and timely assessments, keep manuscripts confidential, declare conflicts of interest, and report any ethical concern to the editor. Read the policy.
● Duties of authors. Authors are accountable for the originality, accuracy, and ethical conduct of their work, and for correcting errors discovered before or after publication. Read the policy.

Ethical requirements for authors and published works
● Authorship and contributorship. Everyone listed as an author must have made a substantial contribution, approved the final version, and accepted accountability for the work. AI tools cannot be authors. Read the policy.
● Conflicts of interest and funding. Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or non-financial interest that could influence their judgment. All sources of funding must be stated. Read the policy.
● Originality, plagiarism, and redundant publication. Submissions must be original and must not be under consideration elsewhere. See also the journal's Anti-Plagiarism Policy. Read the policy.
● Research involving human participants and animals. Studies must have ethics committee approval and informed consent where required, and must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki. Research conducted in online environments must protect the privacy of the people and communities studied. Read the policy.
● Data, images, and reporting standards. Data must be reported accurately and retained; images must not be manipulated in ways that misrepresent results; relevant reporting guidelines must be followed. Read the policy.
● Use of artificial intelligence. AI tools may support, but never replace, the work of authors, reviewers, and editors, and their use must be disclosed. See the journal's AI Policy. Read the policy.

Editorial process
● Peer review. All research content undergoes double-blind review by at least two independent external reviewers. See the journal's Peer Review Process. Read the policy.
● Editorial independence. Decisions are taken by the editors on academic grounds only and are never influenced by publication charges or commercial considerations. Read the policy.
● Suspected misconduct. Any concern about a submitted or published work is assessed confidentially and fairly, and the people concerned are given the opportunity to respond. Read the policy.
● Open access, licensing, and preservation. Articles are published under a CC BY 4.0 license, authors retain copyright, and content is preserved for the long term. See the journal's Open Access Policy. Read the policy.

Corrections, Retractions & Complaints
The journal corrects the scholarly record whenever necessary. Errors that do not affect the findings are corrected through a published erratum or corrigendum linked to the article. When credible concerns cannot be resolved promptly, the Editor-in-Chief may publish an expression of concern, following the COPE Guidelines: Expressions of concern. Articles whose findings or conclusions can no longer be relied upon are retracted in accordance with the COPE Retraction guidelines; the retraction notice states the reasons and who is retracting the article, is freely accessible, and remains permanently linked to the original article. Decisions on corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are made by the Editor-in-Chief. Complaints and appeals are handled confidentially and impartially. Read the full policy and the procedure for complaints and appeals.

Standards we follow
Our policies are developed by the publisher and are consistent with the following guidelines, whose full text is available at the links below:
● Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, WAME) (official source: doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.12)
● COPE Ethics toolkit for a successful editorial office (official source: doi.org/10.24318/AkFpEBd1)
● COPE Retraction guidelines (official source: doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.4)
● COPE Guidelines: Expressions of concern (official source: doi.org/10.24318/mw2J3661)
● COPE Ethical guidelines for peer reviewers (official source: doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.9)
● ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (official source: www.icmje.org/recommendations/)
● WMA Declaration of Helsinki (official source: www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/)
● CONSORT 2025 Statement (official source: doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-081123)
● SPIRIT 2025 Statement (official source: doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-081477)
● STM Recommendations for a Classification of AI Use in Academic Manuscript Preparation
● STM Ethical and Practical Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI in the Publication Process

Contact
If you have any questions about these policies, or if you wish to raise a concern about a submitted or published work, please contact [email protected]. All reports are handled confidentially.

The journal is an open access publication. To provide free access to readers and cover the costs of editorial management and production, the journal charges an Article Processing Fee.

More information is available on our Publishing Charges page. Editorial decisions are made independently of the payment of any charge, and the ability to pay has no influence on the outcome of peer review.

Standard Fee: The Article Processing Charge (APC) for the journal is 200 USD. This fee is payable only upon acceptance of the manuscript after a successful peer-review process. There are no submission fees.

Use of the APC: The APC is used to maintain a high-quality publishing infrastructure and covers the following services:
● Editorial management: Support for the peer-review process and coordination between editors, reviewers, and authors.
● Production: Professional translation and copy-editing, linguistic correction, and high-quality typesetting in multiple formats.
● Online hosting: Maintenance of the digital platform, ensuring 24/7 access to research.
● Archiving and Indexing: Submission of metadata to international databases and long-term digital preservation.

Funding and Support:
● Grant Funding: Most authors cover the APC through research grants or institutional funds.
● Waivers and Discounts: The journal is committed to supporting researchers from diverse economic backgrounds. Requests for partial waivers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as described in the publisher's policy on waivers, discounts, and exceptions.

Payment Process: Once a manuscript is officially accepted, the corresponding author will receive an invoice with payment instructions. The publication process will only proceed once the payment has been confirmed.

Contact Information: For any inquiries regarding billing or waiver requests, please contact: [email protected]

South American Publishing recognizes the growing influence of artificial intelligence technologies, including large language models (LLMs) and generative systems, on academic research and scholarly publishing. This policy establishes a framework for the ethical, transparent, and responsible use of AI tools throughout the editorial and publication process.

As a member of the STM Association, South American Publishing aligns its policies with the STM Recommendations for a Classification of AI Use in Academic Manuscript Preparation.

The use of AI-based tools, including language models such as ChatGPT, is not prohibited. However, these technologies are considered support tools and do not meet the criteria for authorship. AI tools must not be listed or credited as authors under any circumstances. The use of AI does not diminish or replace the authors' responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and accountability of the submitted work. Authors remain fully responsible for all content, regardless of whether AI tools were used during the preparation of the manuscript.

Use of AI by authors
Following the STM classification, AI use in the preparation of a manuscript is treated as follows:
● Permitted, disclosure not required: refinement, correction, editing, or formatting of text written by the authors in order to improve the clarity of language (for example, spelling and grammar tools).
● Permitted, disclosure required: writing or drafting content, or substantially expanding or rewriting text; translating the manuscript; refining or formatting reported data or code without altering their substance or functionality; generating or editing figures used for illustrative purposes only; generating or refining visualisations of the authors' own research data or results; and assistance in gathering references, each of which the authors must verify against the original source.
● Not permitted: presenting content of any kind generated by AI tools (data, text, images, graphs, or other material) as though it were original research data or results obtained from non-machine sources, and using AI to create, alter, or manipulate original research data, results, or research images.

Disclosure must indicate the name of the tool, its version or model where applicable, the purpose for which it was used, and the stage of the research or writing process in which it was applied. This information should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Methods or Acknowledgments. The editor assesses each disclosed use and decides whether it is acceptable; accepted disclosures appear in the published work so that readers are informed. Before entering any material into an AI tool, authors must consider confidentiality, privacy, and copyright, and must hold the necessary rights to any third-party content they upload.

The use of AI technologies to fabricate data, manipulate results, generate false references, or otherwise misrepresent research findings is strictly prohibited and may be treated as research misconduct. In such cases, editorial actions may include rejection prior to publication or retraction of published material, in accordance with the publisher's Corrections, Retractions & Complaints policy.

Use of AI by reviewers
Reviewers are required to preserve the confidentiality of the peer review process at all times. Manuscripts under review, including supplementary material, must never be uploaded in whole or in part to publicly available AI services. Generative AI must not be used to produce the assessment of a manuscript: reviewing is a responsibility that can only be performed by, and attributed to, the invited reviewer. A reviewer who uses a tool solely to improve the language of comments they have written themselves must ensure that no manuscript content or confidential information is entered into the tool and must inform the editor. Reviewers who suspect undisclosed use of AI by authors should report it to the handling editor as part of their review.

Use of AI by editors
Editors are responsible for ensuring that authors and reviewers are informed of this policy and that its principles are consistently applied. Editors must not upload submitted content to publicly available AI platforms. Any AI-supported tool used by the editorial office for workflow support or integrity checks must be approved by the publisher and must protect confidentiality, privacy, and copyright. AI technologies are never used as substitutes for editorial decision-making: human oversight is preserved at all stages of the process.

The editorial office may employ appropriate tools to identify potential AI-generated content, plagiarism, or manipulation, where necessary, as part of its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record. The output of such tools is treated as an indicator that is always evaluated by an editor, and concerns related to the inappropriate use of AI are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In situations where questions, disputes, or uncertainties arise regarding the acceptable use of AI technologies, South American Publishing will follow the Ethical and Practical Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI in the Publication Process published by STM. This policy is intended to evolve in response to developments in AI technologies and scholarly publishing practices and may be updated accordingly. For any questions on this subject, or to report concerns or suspected misuse of AI, please contact [email protected].