INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

1. Aims and Scope

The Journal of Rescue and Relief is the official scientific research quarterly publication of the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The journal accepts Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Short Communications, and Letters to the Editor in the fundamental, developmental, and functional fields of rescue and relief management and disasters. Relevant manuscripts in these fields will be considered for publication.

Authors must declare that their manuscript is submitted exclusively to the Journal of Rescue and Relief and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

2. Submission

Authors should submit a copy of the manuscript, together with photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and other relevant materials, to the Journal Office at the address provided on the journal website.

The manuscript must be accompanied by a covering letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief, including the title of the manuscript, the names of all authors, and a statement confirming that the manuscript has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

Tables and illustrations should be prepared separately. Tables should not be submitted as photographs.

The manuscript should be submitted as an attachment in Times New Roman, 12-point font. Figures should be submitted in JPEG or GIF format and should be of sufficient quality for online publication.

3. Manuscript Structure

The manuscript should include the following sections, as applicable:

• Title Page,

• Abstract,

• Introduction,

• Methods,

• Findings,

• Discussion,

• Acknowledgements,

• References.

The structure may vary according to the article type.

4. Title Page

The title page should include the complete title of the manuscript; the names of all authors and their highest academic qualifications; the departments or institutions with which they are affiliated; and the corresponding author’s full address, telephone number, and e-mail address. A fax number may also be provided where applicable.

5. Abstract

All Original Research Articles must include a structured abstract of up to 250 words. The abstract should be organized under the following headings:

Background, Methods, Findings, and Conclusion

The abstract should be followed by 3–5 keywords. Keywords facilitate indexing and cross-indexing of articles. Authors should ensure that the abstract accurately reflects the content of the manuscript.

6. Introduction

The Introduction should summarize the purpose and rationale of the study. It should not provide an extensive review of the subject or include the findings or conclusions of the study.

7. Methods

The Methods section should provide sufficient detail about the methods, observations, procedures, or experiments used in the study.

When an apparatus or specialized equipment is used, the manufacturer’s name and address should be provided in parentheses. For established methods, an appropriate reference should be cited. For new or substantially modified methods, sufficient detail should be provided to enable other researchers to reproduce the procedure.

The statistical methods used should be clearly described, and any relevant statistical software or computer program should be identified. Where applicable, the statistical software and other software used for data management or analysis should also be clearly stated.

8. Findings

The Findings should be presented clearly using text, tables, and figures, as appropriate. Information presented in tables should not be unnecessarily repeated in the text; instead, the relevant table or figure number should be cited.

Long articles may require subheadings within some sections, particularly the Findings and Discussion sections, to clarify the presentation.

9. Discussion

The Discussion should interpret the principal findings of the study in relation to the research objectives and relevant previous research. Similarities, differences, and possible explanations should be discussed where appropriate. Detailed findings should not be unnecessarily repeated.

Authors should emphasize the novel and important aspects of the study and draw conclusions that are supported by the findings. Where hypotheses have been formulated, the authors should state whether the findings support or do not support the hypotheses, or whether the available evidence is insufficient to draw a definitive conclusion.

10. Acknowledgements

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged. This may include individuals who provided technical assistance, writing assistance, or general support.

Sources of financial and material support should also be acknowledged.

11. Tables

Tables should be limited in number and submitted with their captions placed above the tables. Tables should not be submitted as photographs.

Explanatory information should be presented in footnotes rather than in the table headings.

12. Figures

Figures should be limited in number and provided in high-quality format. Each figure should be submitted separately, as applicable, and the captions should be placed below the figures.

The same data should not be presented simultaneously in tables, figures, and the main text.

13. References

All manuscripts should include relevant and appropriate references.

Authors should conduct a comprehensive literature search and cite relevant studies, including locally published research where appropriate. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all references and should verify each reference against the original source whenever possible.

References should be formatted according to the following examples:

A) Article:
Vega KJ, Pina I, Krevsky B. Heart transplantation is associated with an increased risk for pancreatobiliary disease. Ann Intern Med. 1996;124:980-3.

B) Book chapter:
Philips SJ, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke. In: Laragh JH, Brenner BM, editors. Hypertension: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. 2nd ed. New York: Raven Press; 1995. p. 465-78.

14. Proofreading

The final version of the manuscript will be sent to the corresponding author for proofreading before publication. Authors should carefully check the proofs for errors and return any necessary corrections to the Journal Office promptly.

15. Abbreviations and Symbols

Only standard abbreviations should be used. Abbreviations should be avoided in the title and abstract. The full term should precede the first use of an abbreviation in the main text, unless the abbreviation is a standard unit of measurement.

16. Ethical Guidelines

Ethical considerations must be addressed in the Methods section, where applicable.

A) Research involving human participants

Authors should state whether informed consent was obtained from all adult participants and, where applicable, from the parents or legal guardians of minors. The name of the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Research Ethics Committee that reviewed and approved the study should also be provided.

Where informed consent was not required, the authors should state the basis for the waiver or exception and identify the approving ethics committee or institution.

B) Research involving animals

Authors should state that the care and use of experimental animals complied with relevant institutional, national, or international guidelines for the humane care and use of laboratory animals. The relevant approval or oversight body should be identified where applicable.

17. Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose all sources of funding and any potential conflicts of interest, including financial relationships such as receiving funds or fees from, or holding stocks or shares in, an organization that may benefit or suffer financially from the publication of the article.

Declaration of a conflict of interest will not automatically result in rejection of a manuscript; however, authors must disclose all relevant interests.

Conflict of Interest Form. Click Here

18. Copyright

Copyright and licensing terms applicable to articles published in the Journal of Rescue and Relief are set out in the journal’s Copyright Policy and Copyright Form.

Authors should review and complete the required copyright documentation before publication.

Copyright Form. Click Here

19. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts are treated as confidential and are subject to peer review. Manuscripts are reviewed by at least two anonymous reviewers selected by the Editorial Board.

The corresponding author will be notified of the editorial decision, which may include acceptance, rejection, or a request for revision.

Manuscripts that meet the journal’s editorial and peer-review requirements will be scheduled for publication in an appropriate forthcoming issue.

Final Checklist

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that the following requirements have been met:

1. The title page includes the manuscript title; the names, qualifications, and affiliations of all authors; and the corresponding author’s mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number, with a fax number where applicable.

2. The manuscript includes a structured abstract of up to 250 words, as applicable.

3. References are presented according to the journal’s specified format.

4. Tables are prepared separately and include appropriate numbers and captions.

5. Table headings, numbers, and figure captions are complete and accurate. Information should not be unnecessarily repeated in tables, figures, and the text.

6. Photographs and illustrations are provided in an appropriate format and accompanied by captions.

7. The required Commitment Letter, signed by all authors, is included with the submission.

8. Funding sources, conflicts of interest, and relevant ethics approval are disclosed, where applicable.

9. A covering letter is included with the submission.