Research data policy

The Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (JHRS) support transparency, reproducibility, and responsible data sharing as core components of high-quality scholarly publishing. Making research data available enhances the credibility of published findings, enables verification of results, and encourages new analyses and future research.

JHRS encourages authors to share the data underlying their published results whenever possible, following the principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary.”

  1. What Data Should Be Shared

Authors are encouraged to make available all data that is necessary to:

  • Validate the findings reported in the manuscript
  • Replicate the analyses
  • Enable meaningful reuse of the data

This may include where relevant:

  • Datasets and data tables
  • Software, scripts, or code used for analysis
  • High-resolution images, audio or video files
  • Supplementary materials and large appendices

Materials that cannot be included within the article itself may be shared as supplementary files or via external repositories.

  1. How and Where to Share Data

Authors may choose one of the following options:

a) Repository Deposition

Authors are encouraged to deposit data in a FAIR-compliant repository (institutional, disciplinary, or general-purpose) that ensures long-term access and preservation. Repositories should provide persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs).

General-purpose repositories such as Zenodo may be used where no suitable disciplinary repository exists.

When selecting a repository, authors should ensure that:

  • The repository is appropriate for the subject area
  • It has a clear sustainability and preservation policy
  • Data are accessible under clear reuse conditions

To help identify suitable repositories, authors may consult public repository registries.

b) Supplementary Materials

Data may also be submitted as supplementary files through the journal’s submission system. These files will be made available to reviewers during peer review and published online alongside the article if accepted.

Supplementary files are published as provided by the authors and are not copy-edited or typeset.

  1. Documentation and Reusability

Shared data must be accompanied by sufficient documentation to allow understanding and reuse, including:

  • Clear variable descriptions and labels
  • Information on data collection and processing
  • Details of software, instruments, or tools used
  • A README file where appropriate

Whenever possible, data should be provided in open, non-proprietary formats.

  1. Data Accessibility Statement

All manuscripts reporting original research must include a Data Accessibility Statement placed before the reference list. This statement should be specified:

  • Where can the data be accessed (including DOI or persistent link), or
  • Why cannot the data be openly shared

If access to the data is restricted, the statement must explain the reason and describe how qualified researchers may request access, where applicable.

  1. Ethical, Legal, and Security Considerations

JHRS recognizes that open data sharing may not always be possible. Legitimate restrictions include, but are not limited to:

  • Protection of participant privacy
  • Confidentiality agreements
  • Legal or regulatory obligations
  • Security or safety concerns

Where data access is restricted for ethical or legal reasons, the manuscript must include:

  • A description of the restriction
  • Any guidance provided by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee
  • Conditions under which access may be granted, if applicable
  1. Human Participant Data

For research involving human participants, human material, or identifiable personal data:

  • Studies must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable national regulations
  • Approval by an appropriate ethics committee must be stated
  • Informed consent must be obtained from participants or their legal representatives

Data must be anonymized or de-identified whenever possible. If effective anonymization is not feasible, identifiable data must not be shared unless explicit written consent for public data sharing has been obtained.

  1. Licensing

Where data are shared openly, authors are encouraged to use licenses that permit broad reuse (e.g., CC0 or CC BY). More restrictive licenses should only be applied when justified by legal or ethical constraints.

  1. Editorial Oversight

The editorial team may request clarification regarding data availability during peer review or prior to publication. Failure to provide an appropriate Data Accessibility Statement may delay publication.

Authors with questions about data sharing are encouraged to contact the editorial office after acceptance of their manuscript.